Glenn Freeman

V Australia will initially operate flights between the east coast of Australia and the west coast of the US, with the first flight operated by a brand new B777-300ER launch aircraft named Didgeree Blue.

The livery of V Australia was also unveiled today, sporting a design that Virgin believes builds on its Virgin Blue roots, while revealing a contemporary look symbolising the launch of a “new era of competition” on the Trans Pacific route. The aircraft will have a silver fuselage with a red tail, featuring the stars of the Southern Cross and elements of the Australian flag.

V Australia will be the fourth airline in the Virgin Blue Group of Airlines, including domestic carrier Virgin Blue, New Zealand based airline Pacific Blue and Polynesian Blue, the joint venture airline between Virgin Blue and the Government of Samoa.

According to Virgin Blue Airlines Group Chief Executive, Brett Godfrey: “This is the first time in decades Australia has a start-up long haul international airline and we look forward to bringing competitive air fares and a new style of service to the Trans Pacific market.

“We had an amazing response to help name the airline and V Australia stood out among the entries. It is nice and simple, easily recognised, both understated and obvious and has a clear Australian identity”.

Both the ‘V Australia’ and ‘Didgeree Blue’ names were selected
following a competition conducted in partnership with the MIX FM radio
station.

V Australia has also applied for permission from the United States Government to commence services in November 2008, and is continuing its progress with the development of its launch route network, product and fare structure.

Qantas today used the official launch of its tweaked flying kangaroo logo to announce a raft of changes across its international and domestic services and aircraft fleet, including the Airbus A380 model due in August 2008.

According to Qantas Executive General Manager, John Borghetti, the decision to launch a reinterpretation of its iconic logo was made for reasons of practicality and to show its increasing focus on contemporary design and innovation.

He explained the new shape and composite materials used in constructing the A380 tail-plane were also considerations in the logo change: “This move also reflects the changing structure of our new aircraft – for example, the shape of our new kangaroo is a great fit for the tail of the A380 and other new generation aircraft”.

Borghetti described it as “a modern take on a design that has stood the test of time…We took great care to carry this legacy into the  new design”, and said it will be progressively rolling out the new branding across the airline in the lead up to the delivery of the first A380 next August.

Qantas used the occasion to also unveil its seating and interior schemes for the A380 and its new ‘premium economy’ class for international passengers, due to be implemented across its Boeing 747-400 aircraft from February 2008 and the Airbus A380 from its August 2008 launch.

The A380 will comprise 450 seats, with 14 in first class, 72 in business, 32 in the new premium economy cabin and 332 in economy.    

“The design process has included an unprecedented level of customer involvement, with many customer initiated ideas being followed through to prototype and customers participating in sleeping comfort trials and ergonomic testing of seats,” Borghetti said.

“The design process evolved over five years to culminate in a layout of 14 private suites, each featuring a 17 inch LCD wide screen video monitor, an array of personal stowage options, a unique touch screen control unit and a seat – manufactured by B/E Aerospaces’s VIP jet group – that swivels into a comfortable armchair and a fully flat, extra long and very wide bed.”

Among key features for first class A380 passengers is the lounge area with self-service refreshment bar, large sofa, seatbelts for in-flight use and entertainment screen with laptop connection, along with the Panasonic In-flight Entertainment system delivered via a 17.1 inch LCD video monitor.

The new premium economy cabin class comprises redesigned seating and is pitched at economy travellers seeking more space, comfort and an enhanced level of service. The Recaro-designed seats, with extra width and additional leg-room, also have an in-arm touch screen video monitor and integrated multiport jack swith USB and RJ45 ports, available in all A380 classes.

Premium economy passengers get use of a self-service bar, while economy passengers have access to four of these along with the USB and other PC port access available to all A380 passengers.

Borghetti said the premium economy cabin would be available gradually on B747 services to London, Hong Kong and Johannesburg from February 2008 with further routes to be added following the introduction of the A380.

Premium Economy will be located on the main deck of B747 aircraft with 32 seats in a two-four-two configuration. On the A380, the cabin will be located on the upper deck with 32 seats in a two-three-two configuration.

On the domestic front, Qantas also revealed new interiors and internal colour schemes for its fleet of B767-300, B737-800 and B737-400 aircraft operating services within Australia and New Zealand. The first of the refitted Qantas’ B767 aircraft is already in the air, with the remainder  to be completed by April 2008 and Qantas’ B737 aircraft to be completed by June 2008.

Qantas will introduce dedicated domestic business class lounges at its key business airports of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbaneby mid-2008, available to domestic business and top-tier frequent flier clientele.

Along with expanded lay-out and private seating arrangements, the upgraded lounges will feature full teleconferencing equipment, digital display and projector equipment, dedicated break-out areas, expanded wireless access and more PC units.    

At the check-in stage, Borgehtti said the carrier was continuing to invest in technology to reduce the time passengers spend being processed before flights, expanding the number of QuickCheck kiosks offered in domestic Australian airports and increasing the promotion of these services.

Despite a fall within Japan, where vehicle sales decreased by 43,000 units to 500,000, consolidated sales for the first quarter were 2.16 million units, up 71,000 units on the corresponding period last financial year.

Consolidated vehicle sales for the first quarter amounted to 2.16 million units, an increase of 71 thousand units compared with the same period last fiscal year. This was driven by an improvement in sales across Toyota’s range including strong sales of the Lexus LS series, particularly its hybrid model launched in May 2007.

The company also experienced an increase in domestic production to meet growing overseas demand.

Takeshi Suzuki, TMC Senior Managing Director, said: “We posted substantial increases in both revenues and profits, our highest ever quarterly results.

“Operating income showed a steep increase of 163.0 billion yen compared with the first quarter of the previous fiscal year, due to improved marketing efforts, including higher sales volume and improvement in the product mix, and cost reduction efforts which offset higher raw material costs.”

Sales in Asia increased by 29, 000 vehicles to 222 thousand vehicles, with sales volume steadily increasing, mainly in Indonesia, and the South East Asian market showing signs of continuing recovery.  Its consolidated subsidiaries in China also contributed to the increase.

Vehicle sales in North America totalled 762 thousand units, up 15 per cent thanks in part to the launch of new models such as the Tundra and the Lexus LS, and strong sales of high fuel efficiency models such as the Prius.

In Europe, sales increased by 25 thousand vehicles, to 333 thousand vehicles. Operating income increased by 2.0 billion yen, to 38.5 billion yen, due to the successful launch of the Auris earlier this year, and continued steady sales of the Yaris and the Aygo.

In the other regions including Africa, Oceania and South and Central America, sales reached 345 thousand vehicles, an increase of 45 thousand units.  Operating income totaled 38.6 billion yen, an increase of 22.7 billion yen.

TMC estimates that the projected consolidated vehicle sales for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2008 will be 8.89 million units, which is unchanged from TMC’s initial forecast announced in May 2007.  The company’s consolidated revenues and earnings forecast for the fiscal year also remains unchanged, with consolidated net revenues of 25.0 trillion yen, operating income of 2.25 trillion yen and net income of 1.65 trillion yen.

Net revenues for the first quarter totaled 6.52 trillion yen, up 15.7 per cent on the same period last fiscal year.  

Operating income increased 31.8 percent to 675.4 billion yen, while income before income taxes, minority interest and equity in earnings of affiliated companies was 739.0 billion yen. Net income increased by 32.3 percent to 491.5 billion yen.

Positive contributions to operating income totalled 220.0 billion yen, consisting of 100.0 billion yen from marketing efforts, 100.0 billion yen from changes in foreign exchange rates and 20.0 billion yen from cost reduction efforts.

Negative factors totaled 57.0 billion yen.