Virgin to GLA?

[WOWBOY]

Do you think that in the near future we will see Virgin operating from GLA?

[Bluebaron]

No

BB

[scroggs]

Unless you mean Virgin Express? There is less than a miniscule chance of Virgin Atlantic ever operating from Glasgow.

[Bagso]

We thought Virgin would expand at Manchester but save for a token Orlando service they have nevr got going...

As usual it's always LHR or LGW.....

Glasgow sadly does not have a cat in hells chance..!

[caniplaywithmadness]

You might be surprised, transatlantic operations out of GLA are set to increase this year with rumours of a daily Boston, on top of 2 Newark, the Chicago and Philly flights plus the usual Canadian Destinations. Emirates are allegedly going to go to 2 daily (the second to meet up with the Sydney departure in Dubai).

Virgin could easily base an a/c in GLA and run Boston, New York, etc and make a healthy profit into the bargain.

[GoEDI]

All those longhaul flights you've just listed to the US aren't operated by a UK airline, that's the difference. Might get more AA etc, but certianly no VS.
EK aren't going 2x daily, but are putting a B773ER on the route from October, primarily for cargo.

[EK-LHR-LGW-GLA-MAN-B]

If VS were going to fly from GLA i think it would only be to Orlando and we already have 7flights a week to Orlando. EK are not going double daily from GLA, they are putting the 773 on the route from October but could be braught forward to March. It is not just because of cargo, pax loads have been fantastic and the GLA route has been our "most successful start to a new route ever"

[PAXboy]

IIRC a couple of the new rotations into both GLA + EDI are subsidised by the Scottish development somehting or other? There was a big announcement in (I think) 2003 when they provided help to enable more direct flights?

They might be able to do that to an American but not to an EU airline, I suspect. I sit to be corrected.

[scroggs]

Unlike Emirates or the US airlines, Virgin would not be bringing in a load from the aircraft's main operating base. The aircraft would have to be positioned from London, which would destroy the miniscule margin which exists on most airline operations. In any case, Virgin's operating plans for the next few years are already published - and Glasgow does not feature (though Manchester does).

[EK-LHR-LGW-GLA-MAN-B]

Virgin would also not be able to offer the connections that the US airlines and Emirates etc can offer. That is why BA dont do many long haul from the regions and leave it to the likes of CO, EK, AA, US etc

[GrahamK]

Isn't this the type of thread that should be on !!!!!!!!!!!!!!?

Anyway, can't see VS starting any flights from GLA.
However, they do have some training flights at PIK, but I guess thats the nearest we'll see them doing any flights from Scotland

[GoEDI]

However, they do have some training flights at PIK, but I guess thats the nearest we'll see them doing any flights from Scotland

Also the best chance of catching site of an A380 North of the border too.

[kpiko3]

Even a VS orlando service wouldnt work from GLA! You seen how heavy those 747`s lift off from Manchester

VIR might follow the lead of BWIA and come to PIK lol..after all..soon they will have M77 finished, Rail improvements are now finished and the terminal is in the process of a 3m upgrade(chaos at PIK btw)...who knows what might happen soon at PIK

Cheers,
kpiko3

[billyg]

The VS network will NEVER serve Scotland, and to be honest Scotland doesn't need them, as several of the worlds leading airlines are in line to op both new european and long haul routes from north of the border. VS are English Airways Mk2.

[scroggs]

Also the best chance of catching site of an A380 North of the border too.

The A380 will almost certainly be a zero-flight-time conversion, which will not require empty-aircraft base training. So I'm afraid it's unlikely you'll see one doing circuits at Prestwick!

[Caledonian]

A billyg said they are concentrating on there own little english market and let them be, we dont need them, we will stick to letting north american and middle east carriers showing us how it should be done.

[flyer55]

Did anybody see the article that was in either the Evening times or Evening news which seemingly said that the Scottish Parliment would like to see more International flights from Scotlands Airports .

[sparkymarky]

Is there any news yet on the seasonal services such as AA to Chicago and US to Philadelphia restarting?

I know there were also many rumours of Boston?

[GrahamK]

GLA-ORD restarts May 2nd I believe and goes through to October, using 767-300ER a/c.
GLA-PHL starts about the same time I think, but ends at the end of September?
Correct me if wrong

[sparkymarky]

It's a shame they end at all.

Would be nice to see them staying through the winter - even if on a 757.