I've just had an email advising these changes:
- 5th Daily LHR-JFK service
- Daily LHR-DTW service, currently operated by DL but VS taking on.
- Additional daily LHR-LAX service
- 2nd Daily LHR-ATL service (Summer only)
- Additional LHR-SFO (Extra 5 a week)
- 2nd Daily LHR-MIA (Winter only)
- Daily MAN-ATL service
- DL will take on 1 of the LHR-EWR services
- DL will launch new MAN-JFK service (Summer 15)
- LHR-NRT dropped 31 Jan 15
- LHR-BOM dropped 31 Jan 15
- LHR-YVR dropped after this season
- LHR-CPT dropped 26 Apr 15
Some big changes and strengthening over the Atlantic
Maybe the management have realised that the clue is in the name, “Virgin Atlantic“, not “Virgin UK”.
For me, the surprise is leaving CPT. After SA did the same, that gives BA the UK monopoly year round. Very curious.
Insufficient connection possibilities at the CPT end is my guess. JNB is the major hub for all of southern Africa and beyond.
That said, CPT is a major tourist destination and there must be a significant amount of VFR traffic.
Delta are now wearing the trousers. Any time they want VAA to start a new route/add a service then something will go as there are no more slots at LHR.
And they reckon that a 3rd rwy is not needed till 2030, laughable isn’t it!
The move to T2 happens next week. Does anyone know how things are going, load wise? Can we expect the move into the Star Alliance Terminal to have a positive effect on them?
Hope so, as that was the whole point: to replace the feed formerly provided by BD, and to avoid having to use BA for domestic and near abroad connections.