While Virgin Atlantic’s route network is heavily focused on transatlantic flights, the airline is launching a couple of new routes to Asia. Several months ago, Virgin Atlantic announced plans to launch flights to South Korea. Oddly the flight was put on sale, and then the flight was pulled shortly thereafter, leaving many to wonder what…
Continue reading: Virgin Atlantic Launching Seoul Incheon Flights As Part Of Clever Deal
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It boggles my mind that the UK government would have any influence over two Korean companies merging.
It happens with all businesses operating in other countries. If say, United and American merge, it would need approval from governments worldwide as they might have a monopoly on many routes rendering it impossible for others to compete.
The OZ KE merger need approval of all countries they operated to/from.
That said Virgin is absolutely not competing with Korean as they are both SkyTeam members, and VS is 49pct owned by Delta. Competition would mean be BA or Air Premia operating the route.
Strange how the KFTC listed Seoul-Seattle as a route up for redistribution considering it is also served by Delta (not sure if KFTC considers Delta a competitor) and Alaskan/Hawaiian Airlines.
Regarding Delta’s plans to launch JFK-ICN, if the KFTC doesn’t consider delta as a competitor and if the KFTC considers JFK and EWR as separate destinations (Air Premia and soon United fly Newark Seoul), as crazy and unlikely as it sounds could see AA launch JFK-ICN.
Seoul to San Francisco the KFTC considered United and Asiana to be competitors despite being in star alliance with United launching a 2nd daily sfo icn and soon Ewr icn. Ewr icn launch appears to be close to Korean Asiana integration date.
The only advantage of connecting with Korean Air would be that you can fly one-stop to almost anywhere in Japan.
With ME3, you can fly to Tokyo and Osaka only, but Korean Air flies from ICN to HND, NRT, KIX, UKB, KOJ, KMQ, KMJ, NGS, NGO, KIJ, CTS, AOJ, OKJ, OKA and FUK. When you wanna travel to somewhere in Japan other than Tokyo or Osaka, KE will be the most convenient option.
DL might have orchestrated the arrangement as part of its group of equity airlines but KE will reap the benefits of having an airline "in its fold" to supplement its service.
as for the routing, VS will have to do what every other western airline has to do between western Europe to NE Asia which is to fly south as if going to India and then go north when you can be clear of Russian, Iran, and Afghanistan.
The ME3 hubs are further south than the routing that western airlines have to take - so, no, going on a ME carrier doesn't make sense if distance and time is the issue.
and let's also not forget that EK still has aircraft without direct aisle business class = so let's not carried away about VS' business class seats - which are, at least direct aisle.
Yes, Delta runs the world and decides anti-monopoly measures in the UK. I love how you can somehow make even the most unrelated topics about DL.
I'm glad that Virgin Atlantic is making some decisions without regard for Delta. Virgin Atlantic finally sees that Delta is deteriorating and must start isolating Delta.
you did read the article, Samo?
Ben accurately noted that DL is behind a certain part of this; he and I only differ in the extent. KE benefits in retaining a LHR-ICN flight in a friendly camp, even if KE and VS do not and likely will not have a joint venture in the near term.
just because you don't like DL doesn't mean that they aren't accurately a major force in global aviation and that there are people that recognize it.