VA-keeping competitors honest

[NoJoy]

Good for you Richard:

http://www.virgin.com/richard-branson/blog/will-some-big-airlines-never-learn

 

[N1atEcon]

And they still haven't made a nickle.

 

[B6Busdriver]

And they still haven't made a nickle.

If those big mean corporations wouldn't try and compete then they could.

 

[Mad Dog 80]

Virgin America has not made a nickel but they will. They are not going anywhere.

 

[bri5150]

If those big mean corporations wouldn't try and compete then they could.

Ummmm, competing is one thing....predatory practices are another. But, it is tradition in aviation so I guess it's okay.

 

[N1atEcon]

Virgin America has not made a nickel but they will.

When? 6 years now in operation! Spirit became a ULCC in 2007 and has the best ROIC of anyone right now.
Well at least WTI closed below $88.00 today so that should help everyone.

 

[B6Busdriver]

Ummmm, competing is one thing....predatory practices are another. But, it is tradition in aviation so I guess it's okay.

Welcome to the big league. Shortly after JetBlue came to fruition Delta created Song dumping capacity and fares, AA offered double frequent flier miles on all competing routes, capacity increases, WN low balled all fares between LAX and OAK for years in response to JetBlue flying LGB to OAK, etc. It's the nature of the game, ask Sir Richard to give up some LHR slots to level the playing field in jolly old England. I admire Branson and I understand what he is doing but these moves by competitors are nothing new.

 

[The Drizzle]

Ummmm, competing is one thing....predatory practices are another. But, it is tradition in American Capitalism so I guess it's okay.

ftfy

Some of the comments on that article are hilarious. Paraphrasing here, "THEY SHOULD BE COLLABORATING NOT COMPETING!"

That guy's kids are going to be some of the worst garbage produced by the "participant award society."

 

[nordo_2]

Welcome to the big league. Shortly after JetBlue came to fruition Delta created Song dumping capacity and fares, AA offered double frequent flier miles on all competing routes, capacity increases, WN low balled all fares between LAX and OAK for years in response to JetBlue flying LGB to OAK, etc. It's the nature of the game, ask Sir Richard to give up some LHR slots to level the playing field in jolly old England. I admire Branson and I understand what he is doing but these moves by competitors are nothing new.

Nothing new indeed. Hard-nosed and unfair competition is prevalent on both sides of the ocean. Brandson spin. (ya I know I misspelled his name) It's all good for VA, so long as dick keeps throwing money through the back door.

 

[hyflyin]

so long as dick keeps throwing money through the back door.

There is a pun in there somewhere, being were a SFO based airline.

 

[Flyer1015]

United wasn't suppose to increase SFO-EWR from 7 to 14 daily flights until June. Same for LAX. However, they already did it now in April, pretty much right when VX started EWR service. Before, the capacity increase could be argued as a summer increase. Now, it's obvious it is to drive VX out of their monopoly route.

 

[jonjuan]

United wasn't suppose to increase SFO-EWR from 7 to 14 daily flights until June. Same for LAX. However, they already did it now in April, pretty much right when VX started EWR service. Before, the capacity increase could be argued as a summer increase. Now, it's obvious it is to drive VX out of their monopoly route.

Branson claims his success has quite a bit to do with service. Let the customer choose which service he/she would like to pay for. Branson should love the competition as he is convinced the legacies will be back in ch 11 which is good for him.

 

[fam62c]

Why is it fair for a start-up airline to enter a market and price their service below cost (as VA has done since day one) and lose money in an attempt to win customers but when the competition responds with the same tactic it's unfair? If VA is going to price their product below cost they have no right to complain about unfair competition.

Sir Richard chose to enter one of the most competitive air travel markets in the world at the worst possible time when there was already excess capacity and somehow it's a surprise that they can't turn a profit? Sir Richard made a very bad investment, it's nobody's fault but his own. Business is business, you have to expect established players to defend their turf against upstart competitors.

If VA really offers a superior product they should be able to compete on that basis and the customers should be willing to pay extra for it and they should make money. So far it hasn't worked, I'm sure the customers love the product but that doesn't mean enough of them will choose VA and pay high enough fares for VA to make money. Everybody would like a Mercedes for the price of a Chevy but how long would Mercedes stay in business if they offered that? No premium service carrier in the US domestic market has ever survived with that model. Midwest did well for quite awhile in the 1990's but the economy and industry landscape was much different then. They had a tiny niche that they were unable to expand and their business model eventually proved to be invalid. VA is trying the same thing on a larger scale with less success.

 

[bri5150]

VA is much different than Midwest. They had every single seat as business class. We have 8 and the rest are coach. Did both concentrate on customer service? Yup, but that is about the only thing that is similar. Admittedley, I don't know where we started our fares, but this sounds like a chicken or egg argument. One thing is certain though...we added 6 routes of service, United responded by adding 14-16. Again, very different tactic.

 

[nordo_2]

VA will be ok. Or they wont. Brandson critique of US competitive fairness is empty spin.