Originally Posted by
JW95
Apologies if this has been asked before, but does anyone know if VS still plan on kitting out the final 5 A350s with a leisure-orientated configuration? IIRC, the original plan was to base these a/c at LGW/MAN, but this has since changed with the closure of LGW operations and consolidation of leisure-based routes at LHR.
Well yes the A350-1000's were bought to replace at first the LGW 747 leisure based fleet and cover those sunny routes.
8 a/c of that new fleet are deferred ufn.
As with all things Virgin plans change in mid course, plus now we have seen Virgin completely abandon LGW and all it's operations there, and its Base HQ at Crawley now just been sold for £30m.
So, what next....
747's and A340-600's are all now retired, plus all or most of the 4 ex LTU A330-200's will likely go back early to the Lessor as well - These 4 had been working on the leisure routes pre-Covid since VS got them from AB's liquidators.
As such there is no leisure market for 2020, nor either any winter holiday season 2020/2021 (just maybe could we see BGI on the winter Hols list from LHR?)
MCO MIA CPT and LAS are all out UFN, and some of the Caribbean islands are in and out of the UK Gov No-Go list.
Whilst ANU BGI HAV GND and UVF are OK, TAB, POS, The BVI's and all of the Dutch and French islands are no-go.
Frankly, I would revisit this thread once VS's £££ security is sewn up and good n dandy - There was some better news announced yesterday about that.
Fingers crossed they get through the other side.
Back to topic - I doubt VS's priority just yet will be high density A350's...