25% cut in VA flight schedule: missed news, not newsworthy or nothing to add?

Considering JH made a major cut in VA flight schedule affecting 1 in 4 flights and effectively pulling out servicing some regional centres (and stopping it's only international route) for the moment, I was half expecting ET to feature this as part of the news lineup

3 days later, still nothing.

Wondering if ET staff writers had nothing to add (I only happen to know of the news from a 20s mention on SBS world news), thinks it's nothing newsworthy for ET readers or someone actually missed this announcement or I had missed the ET article about it (at last search on ET website seconds ago, nothing).

The blame was on staffing shortage and reduced travel volume.

This is enough for me to double check my upcoming QF flights and book another flight on another airline (on VA, ironically) in case there was another flight change (I had been moved once already)

So what does ET editors think?

Qantas have just done the same with a 30% cut. Covid in this case affects both supply and demand. We are now in a self imposed lockdown due real fears and reduced supply of all sorts of things.

Oh patrickk, you mean that your fears the past 22 months were not real fears. Please tell us that you have come out of your self imposed lockdown. Hello from Bormio, Italy.

GoRobin,

The fears have always been real it is just the government has gone into ‘let it rip’ mode so people are being very cautious (as hospitals are overwhelmed) in what they do, as in my suburb alone we have hundreds a day and a ‘mild’ case isn’t much fun. I’m triple vaccinated so a little less apprehensive but still not looking forward to a week being laid up, which seems to be fate of the vaccinated who catch the bug, so my self imposed lockdown (as you call it) is less harsh but a N95 mask is de rigeur for me though.

@patrickk

Yes, I realized QF is cutting even more hence I was spooked into getting another flight with VA in case of QF cancellation

Flew SYD-MEL this morning, and only realised the 7am QF flight was the first for the day, VA's was 7.30.

Despite the lack of traffic (tarmac was pretty empty and the departure board looks like schedule on preCOVID XMAS day), the flight only just arrived on time.

Fortunately my meeting was at 10am but this scheduling pretty much means any business meeting before 10 would require travel the day before.

Managed to get onto 5pm return flight this evening, probably quarter full.

Whatever AJ/JH is hoping for in 2022 no one will be having enough travel to build up or maintain status and I expect QF/VA should continue status extension until 2023 at least

agree with the status extension comment - how can they expect anyone to maintain plat etc in current conditions where many are hardly leaving the house let alone flying for work and leisure.

Agree I can’t see too many international conferences and the like this year. Zoom will be the order of the day for another year at least. Overseas holidays are a risk of not only catching the bug but all the palavar involved with insurance, health systems etc. So no platinum for me in 2023 unless another extension is on the cards.

I noticed the ADL/CNS returns have disappeared but return in June.went up over Christmas for a weeks holiday the plane was almost full but coming home was a light load.