Virgin
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: South England
Posts: 128
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Lol Pakistan's been talked of for years at Virgin! It's probably one of those routes that is on the cards but never gets sorted out because something far more interesting and profitable comes about.
VS would do better having a second HKG - again something that has been rumoured for years!!
I'd take it all with a pinch of salt.
VS would do better having a second HKG - again something that has been rumoured for years!!
I'd take it all with a pinch of salt.
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: UK
Posts: 134
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The second HKG will restart later this year. Pakistan may be on the cards for the future, but it's not in the current route plan. Chicago, Toronto and possibly Seattle are likely to be served before Pakistan.
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: South England
Posts: 128
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Digitalis
The second HKG will restart later this year. Pakistan may be on the cards for the future, but it's not in the current route plan. Chicago, Toronto and possibly Seattle are likely to be served before Pakistan.
Good job too - those routes are much better for me than going east!!
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Southeast,UK
Age: 45
Posts: 95
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
i have just seen
on a Bucks based travel agent's website.
so is Pakistan really on Virgin's card to be stared soon...
slightly off the topic does anyone know that which UK airports Airblue are going to fly to?Any airport in the south?and what about other two airlines(aeroasia and shaheen air),who were also allowed to fly to UK, are they also coming over or not? and to which airports?
21 March - Virgin Atlantic to fly to Pakistan,more info to follow soon......
so is Pakistan really on Virgin's card to be stared soon...
slightly off the topic does anyone know that which UK airports Airblue are going to fly to?Any airport in the south?and what about other two airlines(aeroasia and shaheen air),who were also allowed to fly to UK, are they also coming over or not? and to which airports?
Last edited by Evileyes; 30th Mar 2006 at 10:53. Reason: Advertising
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: scotland
Posts: 760
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Virgin Atlantic and Air China to Code share
Travelmole have a report that Virgin and Air China are entering into a code-share arrangement. See link above for more info. More info at Virgin Atlantic
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: on the golf course (Covid permitting)
Posts: 2,131
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Virgin A380 Rumour Of The Day
From a friend....
Apparantly VS have disbanded the A380 implementation team and the 380's are now going to go to Etihad instead.
Also on the cards are 777's to replace A340-600's which aren't performing anywhere close to spec. The 777 production slots have to wait until SQ (who 49%? of VS) have got theirs.
None of this as yet officially announced ..... watch this space.
Apparantly VS have disbanded the A380 implementation team and the 380's are now going to go to Etihad instead.
Also on the cards are 777's to replace A340-600's which aren't performing anywhere close to spec. The 777 production slots have to wait until SQ (who 49%? of VS) have got theirs.
None of this as yet officially announced ..... watch this space.
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: UK
Posts: 134
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Would this be from a Boing pilot who doesn't want to go Airbus, by any chance?
It's a good rumour, but I can't find any substantiation for it, yet I can find considerable substantiation for the A380 programme continuing. However, the idea of the B777 replacing the B744 on Caribbean and other non-A380-capable routes makes some sense.
The A346 may not match the B777 on fuel costs, but overall ownership costs are pretty competitive - and Airbus themselves said that they would offset any extra running costs incurred by A346 operators. And the accountants love its freight capacity!
If I was a betting man (I'm not), I'd bet on the 6 VS A380 options being taken as A380-900s in high-density Orlando-stylee fit, and the first 6 A380-800s being exchanged for -900s at the earliest opportunity but with an LHR-JFK-friendly fit. I would expect to see the first two A380-800s in service as planned. The B777 will come, but not instead of the A380. The A346 will remain the mainstay of the ultra-longhaul routes.
It's a good rumour, but I can't find any substantiation for it, yet I can find considerable substantiation for the A380 programme continuing. However, the idea of the B777 replacing the B744 on Caribbean and other non-A380-capable routes makes some sense.
The A346 may not match the B777 on fuel costs, but overall ownership costs are pretty competitive - and Airbus themselves said that they would offset any extra running costs incurred by A346 operators. And the accountants love its freight capacity!
If I was a betting man (I'm not), I'd bet on the 6 VS A380 options being taken as A380-900s in high-density Orlando-stylee fit, and the first 6 A380-800s being exchanged for -900s at the earliest opportunity but with an LHR-JFK-friendly fit. I would expect to see the first two A380-800s in service as planned. The B777 will come, but not instead of the A380. The A346 will remain the mainstay of the ultra-longhaul routes.
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: fairly close to the colonial capitol
Age: 55
Posts: 1,693
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The 777 replacing the A346 is easy to understand. However , and Topbunk, please forgive my candor, I find the A380 news incredibly hard to believe !
Particularly after all the posh design ideas Virgin had planned for the Super Jumbo. Perhaps they are simply trading delivery slots ?
Particularly after all the posh design ideas Virgin had planned for the Super Jumbo. Perhaps they are simply trading delivery slots ?
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: EU
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
And then you read in Flight Int that VS have selected Lufthansa to supply a stadardised electronic Nav bag system on all aircraft to mirror the A380 "in preparation of the A380 arrival in 2008" according to director of flight ops Matt lee. He goes on to say "what we didn't want to do was to wait for the A380 to come along and then have to begin this process"
They seem to be preparing and making multi million pound additional orders (as in this instance) around its expected introduction??
I am no expert on VS but what wouldn't suprise me is if these rumours about Boeing were allowed to manifest in order to make any deal with Airbus more competitive.
They seem to be preparing and making multi million pound additional orders (as in this instance) around its expected introduction??
I am no expert on VS but what wouldn't suprise me is if these rumours about Boeing were allowed to manifest in order to make any deal with Airbus more competitive.
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: UK
Posts: 134
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Looking back, the same rumour-mongering went on in the hiatus between ordering and receiving the A340-600s. In this case, it's exacerbated by Virgin's decision to delay the first A380 delivery by 18 months to May 2008, and the subsequent admission by Airbus that there will be a further 6 months' delay in delivery. Much of the theoretical preparation has been done; most of the rest won't be done until the aeroplane is a lot closer to delivery. It's quite possible that some of the integration and introduction teams have been stood down because of the two-year delay, and will be reformed at a later date.
At the same time, VS must be actively investigating the replacement of the earlier B744s, Neither the A380 nor the A346 are suitable for many of the B744's less sophisticated destinations: the A346 through capacity and both types through ground handling difficulties, so another aircraft must be in the frame. The B777 is the only realistic alternative on the market just now (though the B748 may also be being considered), so it's inevitable that VS are talking to Boeing.
I think some people just like adding two and two and making five!
At the same time, VS must be actively investigating the replacement of the earlier B744s, Neither the A380 nor the A346 are suitable for many of the B744's less sophisticated destinations: the A346 through capacity and both types through ground handling difficulties, so another aircraft must be in the frame. The B777 is the only realistic alternative on the market just now (though the B748 may also be being considered), so it's inevitable that VS are talking to Boeing.
I think some people just like adding two and two and making five!
Cool Mod
Join Date: Apr 1998
Location: 18nm N of LGW
Posts: 6,185
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
757m,
There are MANY F/O's (and Captains) on PPRuNe who fly the 744, there are many who fly the 346, but I'd take a large bet that the rumour is hand fed, low grade crapola and not one of them would 'announce' it even if they knew!
But then, that is what PPRuNe is all about.
There are MANY F/O's (and Captains) on PPRuNe who fly the 744, there are many who fly the 346, but I'd take a large bet that the rumour is hand fed, low grade crapola and not one of them would 'announce' it even if they knew!
But then, that is what PPRuNe is all about.
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: here
Posts: 259
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Virgin had places on the 777 production line back in 1995 but sold them on for a handsome profit, so I believe. If the 777 is doing so much better on the line in comparison to the A340 then it makes sense to defer the order just like EK is doing.
In EK case I think there are other issues other than just that the A340 is underachieving and has been a nightmare to keep flying from the serviceability point of view (the 777 is doing a lot better than advertised). I think that a delay in aircraft arriving at EK is a small window of opportunity for them to try to resolve the major crewing problems (lack of crews).
In EK case I think there are other issues other than just that the A340 is underachieving and has been a nightmare to keep flying from the serviceability point of view (the 777 is doing a lot better than advertised). I think that a delay in aircraft arriving at EK is a small window of opportunity for them to try to resolve the major crewing problems (lack of crews).
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Magic Kingdom
Posts: 655
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Once the novelty wears off, It's going to be hard to associate the 380 as a luxury liner to the traveling public. It's going to be a big bus.
May work for the Middle East and Far East routes but probably not trans Atlantic where the smaller 767/777 and future 787 are probably more prefererable to fly on.
Good rumour but very far fetched for it to be true.
May work for the Middle East and Far East routes but probably not trans Atlantic where the smaller 767/777 and future 787 are probably more prefererable to fly on.
Good rumour but very far fetched for it to be true.
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Posts: 507
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I don't think the A380 was ever primarily conceived as a transatlantic aircraft, though maybe Europe to US West coast is more likely. Europe to the East coast is a more fragmented market. Anyway, I see that some coming A380 operators (eg. EK, SQ) say adamantly that they will not put more than 550 or so aboard. I tend to believe them, though in future years I can see some carriers lifting 800+ at a time, no doubt about that.