Is Virgin Australia still flying to Abu Dhabi?

9 replies

msport2012

Delta Air Lines - SkyMiles

Member since 14 Apr 2013

Total posts 294

Is VA still flying to AHU? I am looking at heading to LHR on VA to maintain Platinum But all flights from SYD are on EY product.Has VA pulled out of AHU and concentrating on maybe a return to MEL - LAX?

hutch

Member since 07 Oct 2012

Total posts 771

Nothing announced - as far as I know they still do 3 x wk SYD -AUH. They were doing a AUH - KUL service for a while too - as an EY service - not sure if they still do that.

hakkinen5

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 20 Aug 2014

Total posts 193

I've just flown to Lhr. Looked up the dates about 6 weeks ago and like you noticed there was no VA product on this route via Abu Dhabi. All the 777's were on LA flights. So as far as i am aware nothing has been announced but there are no VA planes on this route anymore.  Happy to be corrected though.

Wombus

Member since 30 Mar 2015

Total posts 17

I have a couple of VA flight attendant friends. Both have said to me that at the moment it's all just EY code share to AUH. Looking at timetables

VA1 arrives in LA at 06:30 and VA2 departs at 22:20 (daily)

VA7 arrives in LA at 06:55 and VA8 departs at 23:50 (daily)

In order to make that timetable work you need 4 aircraft - ie all of VA's 777 fleet.

johnaboxall

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

Member since 24 Aug 2011

Total posts 384

777s are being refurbished this year, may have something to do with it. 

undertheradar Banned

Member since 28 Oct 2011

Total posts 234

the 777 refurbs are scheduled to begin in NOV

riley

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

Member since 19 Mar 2014

Total posts 358

They have one fo the 777s undergoing heavy maintenance and Etihad are covering the slack. I'm not sure of the arrangements, if it's a wet lease or VA get some sort of contributions but not a lot changes from a marketing perspective, it's just an Etihad bus instead of a VA bus.

Four4longhaul

Etihad Gold Guest

Member since 19 Feb 2015

Total posts 10

VA pulled off the AUD route back end of last year and moved the aircraft onto the BNE - LAX route allowing the frequency to be ramped up to a daily service. Combined with the MEL - LAX route removal this has allowed them to make operate greater frequency on LAX from BNE and SYD.

The AUD route was a loss maker and as its a JV route with EY they took over the frequency on their metal.

 

Gaburton

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

Member since 01 Apr 2015

Total posts 2

VA SYD to AUH flights return from the 11th April, during the months of Feb/Mar aircraft are sent for maintenance and these flights are taken over by Etihad. There is also another maintenance window usually around November and this will coincide with the beginning of the cabin refurb, which will be completed during the Feb/Mar window 2016.

havanas25

Member since 19 Sep 2014

Total posts 10

The 777s have been having maintenance in Singapore, with the Abu Dhabi routes suspended during this time. These routes to Abu Dhabi will be resumed after the servicing is completed.

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