Virgin America???

[Porch]

What is VA all about?

 

[bluejuice787]

If you are seriously asking the question, then I would look at the quantity and quality of the replys to your post thus far...That should just about sum up what Virgin America is all about.

 

[typhoonpilot]

If you are seriously asking the question, then I would look at the quantity and quality of the replys to your post thus far...That should just about sum up what Virgin America is all about.

Since he posted the question at one in the morning, how many replies would you expect ? None, would be my answer. Now that people are waking up maybe he'll get more than smart a$$ replies.

The Virgin Group of companies does have big airline expansion plans, not only in the States, but worldwide. They have just started Virgin Nigeria; they are looking at starting another brand in India; and there is the often rumoured Virgin Pacific to compete Internationally against Qantas. Virgin America, or whatever it will be called, is the U.S. brand and it all ties in with the parents' global airline expansion plans.


Typhoonpilot

 

[geshields]

What is VA all about?

I didn't know there were any virgins left in America?!?!













Just had to say it...

 

[bluejuice787]

Typhoon-

It was not meant to be sarcastic. I was simply intending it to be read as there is nothing going on.

Richard Branson has respectable plans of global domination, however, he does not have the support of the US govt. He is unable to attract investors as he will not be allowed to own controlling interest in the proposed company.

Many of the original organizers of VA have left and either returned to GB or taken posts with companies like mine (JB).

Juice

 

[typhoonpilot]

My apologies then.

You are right that nothing much is going on with them. I think he may be waiting for a better economic cycle to start up. I sure wouldn't want to try to start an airline in the current U.S. environment of high fuel prices and bankrupt carriers.


TP

 

[Jeff Helgeson]

Virgin America and Jet Blue???...

It would not surprise me if Virgin came up with a code share or purchased some stock, etc. to broker a deal with JB. Since VA was not successful in getting started in the US as Sir Richard B. had originally proposed.

JB is getting a broad route structure through out the US and would be a good combination with Virgin at JFK. Plus, JB could link domestic with international on a lower cost-higher class of service international carrier.

If AA and BA are able to broker a deal this time around, I would think it might add some motivation to a JB/Virgin deal.

I am just thinking out loud. There are no sources suggesting this is in the works.

"Virgin Blue"

Drink special: "Blue Virgins" Two for one one during cruise!!!

 

[bluejuice787]

This too is my opinion: Why would JB link with Virgin when they can do it by themselves?

 

[mach none]

This too is my opinion: Why would JB link with Virgin when they can do it by themselves?

International routes...not the "light international" that you are currently performing.

 

[Porch]

Thanks for the info. I'm over at frontier & (fact) VA was @ HQ a few times to meet with mgt. I was just trying to get the scoop. From what I understand, (rumor) Branson is supposed to announce his intended partner with a US carrier in less than 2 weeks. Anyone know about that JetBlue, F9?? Whatever the outcome I hope it is positive.

Porch (does this board have spell check??)

 

[milehye]

Since we started the rumor game with VA..... I also heard there was to be an announcement made re: a official investor/airline link. However my contact was an Alaska F/A who "served" Sir Richard on a flight two weeks ago coming back from a meeting in Seattle.

But then again, I'm from Seattle and would love to jump ship at CMR and go to Alaska OR VA...Better yet, make them one...

 

[logolight]

2 weeks ago my buddy flew RB on an Independence Air flight from HPN-IAD. The same rumors were flying around over there too.

 

[Yank McCobb]

How come it's always someone's "buddy" who flew RB, or someone heard in recurrent that the CEO was seen with RB, or that someone talked to a FA that had RB on a flight? No one actually SEES RB, now do they? So it's all just BS anyway you look at it until there is something concrete to go on.

 

[Porch]

That's exactly it. Who cares anyway. My grandma told me her friend's sister made me some blue sox...and I never recieved them...I heard that bastard Branson is wearing them while he flys around america banging F/A's....Now that's a true story!

 

[logolight]

How come it's always someone's "buddy" who flew RB, or someone heard in recurrent that the CEO was seen with RB, or that someone talked to a FA that had RB on a flight? No one actually SEES RB, now do they? So it's all just BS anyway you look at it until there is something concrete to go on.

I don't know what to tell you but the FO who flew with him is my best friend. He talked to him and everything but you can take it with a grain of salt if that's what makes you sleep at night.

 

[jetfo]

Branson doesn't fly commercial !?! (unless it's on Virgin)

 

[Indy319FA]

Branson doesn't fly commercial !?! (unless it's on Virgin)

It has been confirmed that RB was on an HPN-IAD flight a couple of weeks ago. The flight attendant was a classmate of mine, and admitted she didn't know who he was until the FO (Logos buddy) told her. He said some interesting things to them, but I'll believe he's gonna buy into us when I find out the check has cleared his bank. One of our customer service agents showed me the reservation, and it was definately THE RB.

 

[b757driver]

I suggest some of you folks read the several books out on Branson, including his biography. Then, you will have some idea what this is all about.
There have been plenty of US start-ups over the years who have taken years to get off the ground. It makes economic sense to wait for the "right" moment to launch. Right now is not the time with fuel being the way it is and the top 5 carriers in bankruptcy protection - hardly conducive to good business practices and you don't need to be an MBA to figure out that one.
Branson is a canny businessman. How else do you think he's made out with some 200, yes, 200 companies under the Virgin Brand. Not all have worked out as planned, some have been PR disasters but he learns from his mistakes and most of his ventures are successes.
As someone mentioned, he will not have a controlling interest in a US company but he is not keen on any merger with a current US airline - those are just rumors! Why should a new company merge with an already existing one and bring upon itself the complexities of that union. Again, doesn'y make much sense. Read the book(s). They are more accurate than any rumors among F/As and buddu buddies.

 

[bvt1151]

Independence operating certificate with Airbus can be bought for next to nothing. Expect that.

 

[JB Bus Drvr]

RB was on one of our flights from the Carribenan recently. Any thoughts of code share with us was put to rest about five years ago by David. There was talk, but the business models did not match up. That was then, a lot has happened since, so who knows. I guess if you have enough money, anything can happen. Look at Martha and OJ.

 

[Jeff Helgeson]

I believe it will be JB

I stated it before. I beleive with the way things are now that RB may do a code share with JetBlue. Why start up an airline in this environment when you can code share with a growing airline like JB. RB could avaoid all the political road blocks of owning the majority stake in a US airline and not have to compete with Ch. 11 companies directly.

Jeff H

 

[ultrarunner]

The flight attendant was a classmate of mine, and admitted she didn't know who he was

Doesn't get out much, does she?

Why am I not surprised.

 

[b757driver]

I stated it before. I beleive with the way things are now that RB may do a code share with JetBlue. Why start up an airline in this environment when you can code share with a growing airline like JB. RB could avaoid all the political road blocks of owning the majority stake in a US airline and not have to compete with Ch. 11 companies directly.

Jeff H

Yes, Jeff, but Branson just loves a little publicity and even more, what some would perceive as a fight. Code sharing would be too easy for him; he wants more. Read the book Doing Business the Branson Way. It will reveal what makes him tick. Trust me, what he wants is his own airline when the time is right. It's worked pretty much every where else - that's why he is so successful. Most people stateside don't know much about him or his companies (even the regional F/A didn't know who he was) apart from Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Records. Those are a tiny proportion of his empire. Part of his success is not that he is a great entrepreneur, but that he surrounds himself with people who have business smarts and is able to persuade people that they want to work for him. It is very differnt from the mainstream style of management and in that sense he is a maverick, but a very successful one.

 

[Paul R. Smith]

It is very differnt from the mainstream style of management and in that sense he is a maverick, but a very successful one.

"maverick CEO"

 

[Jeff Helgeson]

Very good points

Yes, Jeff, but Branson just loves a little publicity and even more, what some would perceive as a fight. Code sharing would be too easy for him; he wants more. Read the book Doing Business the Branson Way. It will reveal what makes him tick. Trust me, what he wants is his own airline when the time is right. It's worked pretty much every where else - that's why he is so successful. Most people stateside don't know much about him or his companies (even the regional F/A didn't know who he was) apart from Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Records. Those are a tiny proportion of his empire. Part of his success is not that he is a great entrepreneur, but that he surrounds himself with people who have business smarts and is able to persuade people that they want to work for him. It is very differnt from the mainstream style of management and in that sense he is a maverick, but a very successful one.

When one person has that much money and say in the business decisions, your points are valid. However, with the AA and BA talking again and the inabilitiy to own tha majority stake in a US airlie as a foreign national, the JB option might look more attractive. He got the wheels rolling, but now the players have left his employ and the market is not right.

You may be right, he may wait and try again on his own at a later date.

 

[AA717driver]

Ownership isn't a problem. He doesn't hold a majority stake in Virgin Blue. He wants his name on it and an appropriate cut for the use of the Virgin brand.TC