V Australia launch postponed


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Posted by mister on Friday, 3. October 2008 at 09:19 Bali Time:


Not sure if it affects flights to Bali.

VIRGIN'S first Australian-based major international airline has postponed its launch by two and a half months.

In an email to those who have booked tickets for the airline's first services, V Australia blamed a strike at an aircraft factory for the cancellation of all services between December 15 and January 16.


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Are you affected by V Australia's delay? Email us at news@news.com.au


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About 64 flights would be cancelled, affecting 'thousands' of customers who had already booked tickets for the first month of services, an airline spokeswoman said.

'As you may be aware from media reports, Boeing has ceased assembling aircraft at its Seattle factory due to the fact that 27,000 members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers have been on strike since 6 September 2008,' V Australia executive Scott Swift said.

'V Australia has three Boeing 777-300ER aircraft in advanced production at the factory.

'It is in these circumstances that we feel we have no choice but to delay our V Australia launch and have nominated a revised V Australia launch date of 28 February 2009 to protect the interests of our guests.'

'It was a shock," said Tania Cammarano, who with her partner was booked on a V Australia return flight to LA just before Christmas for a three-week stay in the US.

"We had spent a lot of time putting together our travel plans and the domestic US flights are non-refundable

"However the email seems reassuring and we trust V Australia will do the right thing."

Another customer, Shameel Kumar from Sydney, was booked in to fly to the US with his girlfriend to be with her family after Christmas.

'I was just going over for a holiday... my girlfriend lives over there, so I was going to spend some time with her,' Mr Kumar said.

'If (the tickets) are going to be refunded, I'll probably try to book another flight.

'The fare's are probably very high (around Christmas)... it probably will be quite costly.'

Customers who had booked flights in December and mid-January had the option of changing their booking to a later flight or a full refund, the email said.

The airline also said it would try to 'secure an alternative flight on another airline' if the customer requested it.

'We will be contacting everyone in departure date order, so please be patient as it will take us a little time.'

Other Virgin airlines would not be affected by the strike, Mr Swift said.



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