NextGenPSR,
perhaps you would expand on your allegation that VS is 'notorious for using wet-leased aircraft on the MAN-MCO route over the past few years'. Methinks you overstate the case - perhaps you have an anti-Vigin agenda? If so, then make your point clearly.
Virgin used an Air Atlanta B747-300 for the majority of the 2000 summer because the workload on the Classics was causing problems scheduling engineering. As far as I am aware, there was no previous instance of anything other than emergency cover on the rare occasion when an aircraft went irretrevably tech.
For 2001, as has been made public by Virgin, an Air Atlanta B747-200 will be used on LGW-Caribbean routes until July, or thereabouts. Unlike the -300 used this year on MAN-MCO, the aircraft will be in full Virgin fit, with Virgin cabin staff. I've no doubt that Atlanta have been told in words of one syllable exactly what is required of them so that there is no repeat of the 'idiosyncratic' service they produced this year.
To make it absolutely clear: the VS MAN-MCO service in 2001 will not be operated by Atlanta. I understand that Virgin hopes to operate MAN-MCO year-round before long.