Billionaire entrepreneur Richard Branson is making headlines once again, as his latest venture V Australia, announced daily direct Sydney-Los Angeles flights as its inaugural trans-Pacific route and a premium product offering when it takes to the skies from 15 December this year.

The announcement was made in Sydney by Virgin Blue co-founders Sir Richard Branson and Chief Executive, Brett Godfrey, together with New South Wales Premier, The Hon. Morris Iemma.

Sir Richard Branson said, “In a delightful case of déjà vu, I was here eight years ago at Customs House with Brett in Sydney announcing our intention to launch a new airline for Australia. That airline was Virgin Blue.�

He continued, “I am excited to be back here today to join the Virgin Blue and V Australia teams in unveiling bold plans for our new international airline and we are hopeful our Australian friends will join us for the ride. The trans- Pacific route is in dire need of competition and a good shake-up and that’s a challenge we are always keen to take on.�

Sir Richard Branson added, “The launch of V Australia means the Virgin Group for the first time will offer a global network of airlines that allow travellers to fly worldwide on Virgin airlines’ that all share the same vision and commitment to safety, service, fun and flair.�

To celebrate the “go live� sale date, V Australia is adhering to their philosophy ‘to never go out with an empty seat’, by offering Australian travellers 1,000 International Economy seats between Sydney and Los Angeles for $999 return inclusive of all taxes and charges of approximately $415.

Every day economy fares will start from $1899 return which is 16% lower than the current lowest available published fare on the route for the same travel period.

The launch of V Australia Airlines will be the second Australian airline competing on the trans-Pacific route with Mr Branson expecting that “theirs going to be fierce competition� from other airlines flying the Sydney-Los Angeles route. It comes just weeks after the Australia and US Governments signed a historic open skies agreement, with Prime Minister Kevin Rudd set to finalize the agreement today. This agreement will allow Australian or US owned airlines to fly freely between the two countries.

Virgin Blue Chief Executive, Brett Godfrey, announced that V Australia will be a “boutique style airline offering three classes� which include International Business, International Premium Economy and International Economy.

He continued, “We have spent the past two years researching what people value most in an international travel experience and our research shows that the highest ranking desirables are seat size, personal space and being entertained.�

Customers will enjoy the comforts which are expected on an international long haul airline but with the company’s usual twist of innovation such as the fully flat 180 degree beds offered in International business class and the roomy seating in Premium economy class (20 inches of width) and Economy class (18.8 inches of width).

The airline will be the only airline operating on the trans-Pacific to offer the latest in-flight technology connectivity throughout all cabins so guests are able to send and receive SMS text messages, as well as send and receive emails using GPRS devices and mobile phones exactly as they are used on the ground.

The scheduled route has been specifically designed to offer the only daily evening departure from Sydney to LA, allowing travellers a full day’s work or play in Australia before heading to the United States. V Australia will initially launch with daily trans-Pacific services and will ramp up additional frequencies as it takes delivery of more brand new Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.

Sydney- Los Angeles, a route NSW Premier, Morris Iemma described as the “greatest city in the world to the city of angels� was chosen as the first route for V Australia due to Sydney and Los Angeles being major gateway cities in both countries.

In the United States, passengers will be able to connect to or from North West Airlines, the first US based airline to partner with V Australia Airlines, this will offer travellers convenient access to destinations across the United States of America and Canada.

For those travelling across Australia, Virgin Blue’s Sydney hub will offer a host of connecting options from V Australia, starting with Virgin Blue’s domestic destinations and expanding to include connections to Pacific Blue flights to New Zealand and the South Pacific.

V Australia has also announced it will set up its Australian operations in Sydney, and has committed to employing over 1,000 new team members. The airline will base its recently acquired aircraft simulator and soon-to-be acquired Cabin Crew Trainer in Sydney and conduct its 777 pilot and cabin crew training in the state. Sir Richard Branson is positive about the $44 million investment saying “it’s going to have a big knock on the spread sheet at first� but he is confident that it will

Mr Iemma, is pleased by this new venture which is set to generate an extra $78 million in spending and 50,000 new visitors per year in New South Wales. “We are delighted V Australia has chosen Sydney to be its main Australian operational base as well as Sydney-LA as its first route. The launch of this new airline is set to bring great benefits to Australia and in particular for New South Wales, as it will not only bring a new wave of visitors to our shores, it is creating jobs for Australians in an exciting, vibrant and dynamic industry.� Mr Iemma said.

Brett Godfrey said, “Today is a very significant day for V Australia, for Virgin Blue, for our team, for Australian and US travellers and Australian tourism.�

“We are proud as an Australian airline to be bringing a new, contemporary and passionate airline to the trans- Pacific market that will bring genuine competition and a fresh alternative to travellers.�

Brett Godfrey added, “V Australia Airlines is a multi-billion dollar investment for the Virgin Blue Group of Airlines and it’s not one we have taken lightly. Today’s announcements are the first of many and we have every intention of bringing revolutionary change not just to the trans-Pacific route but across the region.�

The Dominion Post says that Kiwis flying across the Tasman could soon be getting through airports more quickly with the help of automatic passport-reading machines as New Zealand and Australian travellers with electronic passports will be able to put themselves through passport control without having to queue.

Passengers put their passports into a machine similar to a ticket kiosk that downloads details, including an electronic image of the passport holder’s face.

Passengers are then given a coupon for a gate, at which cameras and computers using facial recognition technology do the checks done till now by customs officers.

Customs comptroller Martyn Dunne said New Zealanders had been able to use the SmartGate at Brisbane Airport since late last year and the system would soon be set up in Sydney.

Similar machines would be tested in Wellington in the next few months and he expected the system would be available for all trans-Tasman travel in time for the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

At first it would be available only to New Zealanders and Australians with electronic passports but he expected it would later be available to those from other countries.

Travellers would still have to go through the airport baggage-checking system and some people would still be pulled aside.

“All this is processing people and takes away the necessity to handle everybody in a one-to-one contact,” Mr Dunne said.

New Zealanders and Australians accounted for 60 per cent of all trans-Tasman passengers and it would streamline the procedure for most people.

What is SmartGate?

SmartGate is an electronic passport control system that automatically checks that travellers are who they say they are and does the routine immigration and customs checks everyone is put through when arriving at the border. It should reduce airport queues.

How does it work?

The SmartGate kiosk reads data, including an electronic photo on the microchip embedded in electronic passports issued since 2005. Computers use facial recognition technology to verify the passenger’s identity. If they match, passengers go through automatically - if not, they have to be checked by a customs officer.

A Report by The Mole from The Dominion Post

AirAsia X have announced plans to offer regular fares between Australia and London for A$1,000 (plus taxes/charges) from late 2008.

The flights will depart from Gold Coast and fly to London Stansted Airport, via Kuala Lumpur.

Azran Osman-Rani, CEO of AirAsia X, said: “We are a point-to-point service, so a passenger would have to buy two tickets: Gold Coast-KL and KL-London. While we have promotional fares and generally lower fares for bookings far in advance, on average, we are looking at a combined price of AU$1,000 for both round-trip tickets�.

He said the airline hoped to commence with a daily service, but that this was subject to aircraft availability.

The airline is still waiting for its Kuala Lumpur to Stansted route to open.

“The wide body lease market is very tight at the moment,� said Azran.

Azran said that AirAsia X was in “advance stages of discussion� with airport officials at London Stansted and Manchester airports.

“Both airports are very keen to have us and are willing to accommodate our low-cost requirements. However, we can only finalise the airport once we can confirm availability for dedicated aircraft for this route.�

Robert Milton, the CEO of Air Canada’s parent, recently acquired a minority interest in AirAsia X.

Mr Milton’s airline experience will be valuable for the airline and, says Azran, may help the airline secure aircraft to launch the UK service.

Other factors which could help the airline secure aircraft are the weakening US economy and high fuel prices, leading some airlines to “let go of four-engine aircraft like the A340�.

The airline is also planning to add two more Australian ports to its network within the next two years.

“We have had active discussions with Melbourne and remain interested to serve Victoria. However, other cities have put forth compelling proposals in conjunction with the respective state governments and tourism bodies, which we are seriously studying�, said Azran.

AirAsia X hopes to finalise its second Australian port by May 2008.

Tiger Airways will increase services to regional Australia to take on Virgin Blue’s new E-jets and QantasLink’s Q400s and 717s. Speaking last week at the National Aviation Press Club in Sydney, Tiger CEO Tony Davis told media that “destinations like Tamworth [in regional New South Wales] have seen the cost of airfares increase and their citizens are desperate for the low-cost revolution to arrive.” He said the cheapest flight from Tamworth to Melbourne [Tiger’s base] is on Qantas at A$356 ($332) and involves a Sydney stop.

Tiger plans to use 144-seat A319s for its regional push and the aircraft also will spearhead a move across the Tasman to New Zealand later in the year. Davis sees the A319 as perfectly sized, with 20 regional airports able to handle it and another 20 requiring just a slight lengthening of their runways (ATWOnline, March 7).

He added that Tiger has 50 A320s on order up to 2016 and a substantial number could be switched to A319s, with a fleet of up to 30 aircraft eventually based in Australia. Its initial fleet plan involved five A320s, with the fifth arriving next month, serving 13 destinations, and his speech offered early insight into the airline’s growth plans.

As it did last year, Tiger will invite Australians to vote online for their preferred regional destination as it attempts to gauge demand. Davis expects to announce a second Australian base within three months and told media that the airline plans five operating bases in the country over the next seven years. For the New Zealand market it is eyeing Palmerston North.