"A Virgin Atlantic spokesman told Reuters on Thursday the airline had placed firm orders for 13 A340 aircraft and options for a further 13.
The aircraft will be powered by Rolls-Royce RR.L engines."
Looks like the "4 engines for long-haul" slogan still holds true!
Good for Sir Richard - and hardly a surprise!
Things aren't really going very well for The Boeing Company these days, it would seem. First there was the failure to come up with a competitor to the A380, then the Sonicruiser fiasco, then the KC-767 affair, then doubts over the claims for the Dreamliner with its ambitious composite construction (and which apparantly doesn't have the right 'configuration' to be used as a KC-7E7 tanker, according to Boeing
) - now they've lost this major order to Airbus.
And, of course, the A310 MRTT is progressing well having already carried out AAR transfers to Tornado and F-18, whilst the A330 MRTT has been ordered by Oz and is highly likely to be the RAF's FSTA!