V Australia applies for Sydney-Johannesburg service

After cutting in on Qantas’ lucrative services to North America, it appears that V Australia will look to edge in on another of the Flying Kangaroo’s legacy routes: South Africa.

Applying discreetly to the International Air Services Commission on the 16th of July, V Australia has requested that the government grant it access to the Sydney–Johannesburg route.

In its submission the carrier states, “V Australia proposes to commence services between Sydney and Johannesburg with five weekly services with effect from October 2009. V Australia will operate these services utilising 361 seat B777-300ER aircraft.”

Currently direct services between the countries are only plied by the national carriers Qantas and South African Airways.  And with the two carriers in a cosy codeshare agreement, there is little competition on the route.

“The allocation is requested for a period of five years from 1 October 2009. The capacity will be fully utilised from 1 October 2009,” adds V Australia.

No official statement has been released, and when contacted by e-Travel Blackboard, V Australia would only confirm that they are potentially looking to fly to South Africa.