Originally Posted by
Phoenix1969
Am showing my lack of aviation knowledge here, but merely assumed that they'd want something of equivalent carrying capacity when the time came to replace their 747s.
Cue a deluge of no doubt richly deserved 'you don't know what you're talking about' comments from fellow Ppruners
They are withdrawing their 747s now, Phoenix. But, they are not replacing them with similar size a/c. It looks as though the 787 will be the 747 replacement. Along with every other airline - bar Emirates - VIR seem to believe that the A380 is too large & too expensive to operate.
You would have thought that slot constraints would have pushed these airlines towards the 380, but, apparently, not.