Virgin Blue becomes Virgin Australia

[KeithMEL]

New livery unveiled... v cool!

http://www.ausbt.com.au/photos/view/...341-va-737.jpg

http://www.ausbt.com.au/first-pics-f...mpaign=twitter

New slogan "Now You're Flying." Eh..
http://twitpic.com/4syowr

ASX announcement: http://bit.ly/lXNt4O

Summary:
- Virgin Australia brand to replace Pacific Blue and V Australia by end of the year. No word on Polynesian Blue, presumably because the Somoan government owns 51% of the airline and wouldn't be too thrilled to have it called Virgin Australia... rumoured alternative Virgin Samoa.
- Re-brand led by Luke Mangan (chef), Juli Grbac (fashion designer) and Tim Greer (interior designer)
- Velocity Rewards to be relaunched later in the year.

Press conference now being covered live on Twitter with official hash tag #newvirgin.

[KeithMEL]

Tidbits from the media Q&A:
- Singapore Airlines has formally permitted the use of the Virgin brand outside Australia.
- There will be business class on routes operated by the former Pacific Blue.
- Virgin Australia working on "very exciting" IFE solution but nothing to announce today.
- The rebrand has cost "as much as buying a single Boeing 737."
- Branson believes the new brand will make an enormous difference in the American market. V Australia is a nice brand, but Americans know Virgin, not "V Australia" brand.

[9V-JKL]

I would have thought that they'll keep the same livery as their 77Ws which to me at least looks much nicer....

[KeithMEL]

I would have thought that they'll keep the same livery as their 77Ws which to me at least looks much nicer....

I do like the stars of the Southern Cross on the V Australia livery, which is rather iconic even if it resembles Ansett a little. The new livery is a little conservative but I do like the minimalist approach.

[KeithMEL]

New website's live:
http://www.virginaustralia.com.au/

And a new ad. Hot!
http://www.youtube.com/embed/F1CuemkrzFQ

[SQ_fanatic]

I see Singapore in the pop down menu on the booking engine. Hints that they may fly to SIN?

[KeithMEL]

Sneak peek of J on the 737:
http://twitpic.com/4t0rq0

I see Singapore in the pop down menu on the booking engine. Hints that they may fly to SIN?

They codeshare on Etihad flights to SIN. Only ex-BNE unfortunately. But they did mention that they are working on expanding to Asia...

[Gunnar Smithsen]

...even if it resembles Ansett a little.

A little? You turn that "V" upside down and you have Ansett (albeit in Red)

[FN-GM]

I didnt know VAustralia will become Virgin Australia i thought it was staying separate.

The new livery looks very much like the new VS livery. I wonder if they will try to use that common livery on other virgin airlines such as Virgin America.

[KeithMEL]

Some videos from the press conference:
http://www.ausbt.com.au/video-richar...rgin-australia

And more onboard pics of the new 737 product:
http://www.ausbt.com.au/first-on-boa...-economy-class

[MAN Flyer]

Nice livery. Be handy if they ended up in *A.....

[KeithMEL]

Nice livery. Be handy if they ended up in *A.....

They seem to have their feet in many doors. They have comprehensive bilateral agreements with both *A and ST airlines (NZ and DL), Etihad and Hawaiian (ugh), and interline and FF agreements with MH as well as other Virgins. I look forward to them announcing their Asian partnership which is supposed to happen by year's end... whoever that may be. Would be nice if it's MH but I think they'll want a larger financial hub like SIN or HKG.

More to be announced by June 30 apparently.

Have flicked over a few domestic flights to them after I requalify for QF WP, though it'll be too soon to discern any changes from the old DJ. Will wait for the Velocity relaunch before deciding whether to send more business their way or not.

[KeithMEL]

New Virgin Australia lounge at MEL opened today:

http://www.ausbt.com.au/first-pics-v...ge-opens-today

Very cool! Looking forward to checking out this facility for my flight on Saturday. Now I wonder if the bar will be open at 6am in the morning.

[SQ_fanatic]

To be honest, I am a bit confused of their rebranding.
It seems that domestically they are strengthening on the business market but yet the leisure travellers segement seems to remain budget (fare structure, etc).
Internationally, I think they are full service?

[Kyo]

I wonder if they'll open this up to Priority Pass since the old DJ lounge used to be accessible? I found the old lounge invaluable more than thrice...