Virgin Atlantic
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Recent article on Virgin:
www.economist.com/blogs/gulliver/2014/10/virgin-atlantics-woes
Wish people would stop quoting the loads to May. Travelled with them a lot since launch and loads from EDI are much better since DL code share started.
www.economist.com/blogs/gulliver/2014/10/virgin-atlantics-woes
Wish people would stop quoting the loads to May. Travelled with them a lot since launch and loads from EDI are much better since DL code share started.
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: UK
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Again use the service every second week, but haven't noticed a great deal of difference to be honest except perhaps early August, still on average less than 2/3 full with some depending on the flight barely 25% full. Although the same can be said of some BA flights.
Flew Little Red MAN-LHR this weekend, very pleasant experience, was even persuaded to accept a complimentary g&t on what was a very short sector. About 65 PAX southbound and I believe 82 to go back northbound. Long may it last, expect to try EDI next.
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: Ireland
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Virgin to shut down Little Red
Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Atlantic ends Little Red domestic service - Telegraph
Manchester ends in March 2015, Scottish routes end in September 2015.
Why such long notice? Probably to ensure that they get grandfather rights on the LHR slots...
Manchester ends in March 2015, Scottish routes end in September 2015.
Why such long notice? Probably to ensure that they get grandfather rights on the LHR slots...
Join Date: Apr 2009
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More likely tied into the break clauses with Aer Lingus and penalties involved. Have heard various rumours thrown about the place of carrots being dangled in order to extract themselves from the contract.
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Middlesex (under the flightpath)
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So what happens to the slots?
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: MAN
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I think that's right, Fairdealfrank, although I believe that it's the slot trustee who has to approve any other carrier, rather than VS simply handing the slots to someone else. In practice I imagine that the slots (other than those used for MAN which always belonged to VS) will revert to IAG. IAG can then use them as they see fit (ie they won't be bound by the same restrictions on destinations as VS were).
Alas LBC Radio, in the "Business" commentator section 
has just announced this as a news item, saying 'so that's it, a BA monopoly from now on'. Presumably they don't read press releases beyond the first line any more.
Meanwhile, Sir Richard, if you would only take a little notice of those of us who frequent the Aviation History & Nostalgia pages here, you would know we have a lot of experience of previous challenges to BA's lead on domestic routes. I recall Dan-Air having a shot at MAN-LHR (yes, not LGW) in the mid-1980s, that didn't last either, I once took one of the three per day flights, about 20 passengers maybe. BMI at least had a different approach and built up a significant business by the 1990s, alas one which still was apparently never ever profitable, especially once their Star Alliance partners started flooding their connections with commercially unprofitable interliners. At Little Red, where are all the commercial contracts for the volume accounts, the Scottish Parliament politicians and civil servants, the BBC journalists, the Royal Bank of Scotland, etc etc etc - afraid they remained over on BA.
has just announced this as a news item, saying 'so that's it, a BA monopoly from now on'. Presumably they don't read press releases beyond the first line any more.Meanwhile, Sir Richard, if you would only take a little notice of those of us who frequent the Aviation History & Nostalgia pages here, you would know we have a lot of experience of previous challenges to BA's lead on domestic routes. I recall Dan-Air having a shot at MAN-LHR (yes, not LGW) in the mid-1980s, that didn't last either, I once took one of the three per day flights, about 20 passengers maybe. BMI at least had a different approach and built up a significant business by the 1990s, alas one which still was apparently never ever profitable, especially once their Star Alliance partners started flooding their connections with commercially unprofitable interliners. At Little Red, where are all the commercial contracts for the volume accounts, the Scottish Parliament politicians and civil servants, the BBC journalists, the Royal Bank of Scotland, etc etc etc - afraid they remained over on BA.
Love it loath it, 'Virgin' is a strong brand. Why would you not include it in the airline name? Virgin Uk or something? Very little advertising, no advertising on the Virgin Atlantic aircraft...I just don't get it?
Join Date: Dec 2011
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Love it loath it, 'Virgin' is a strong brand. Why would you not include it in the airline name? Virgin Uk or something? Very little advertising, no advertising on the Virgin Atlantic aircraft...I just don't get it?
"Virgin Atlantic" is a well known and familiar brand; "Little Red" means nothing, apart from a wolf with very big teeth (for those of us old enough to remember).
The lack of advertising and promotion can't have helped. It's tragic, a potential opportunity squandered.
Don't understand, any marketing expert out there able to explain this?
Join Date: Aug 2002
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Sorry chaps Little Red was not a branding issue. Diamond Service was to British Midland what Little Red was to Virgin Atlantic, a marketing moniker, but the airline name is down the side and on the fin, and bookable on the website of the same name.
The fact the service was named Little Red is to VS what Shuttle was to BA, we managed to figure that one out. This has squat diddily to do with branding.
The fact the service was named Little Red is to VS what Shuttle was to BA, we managed to figure that one out. This has squat diddily to do with branding.
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Sorry chaps Little Red was not a branding issue. Diamond Service was to British Midland what Little Red was to Virgin Atlantic, a marketing moniker, but the airline name is down the side and on the fin, and bookable on the website of the same name.
The fact the service was named Little Red is to VS what Shuttle was to BA, we managed to figure that one out. This has squat diddily to do with branding.
The fact the service was named Little Red is to VS what Shuttle was to BA, we managed to figure that one out. This has squat diddily to do with branding.
Join Date: May 2000
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Little Red running VS into the ground.
Join Date: Feb 2014
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Virgin will continue to operate and indeed grown from LHR, LGW, MAN and GLA. However there is more chance of me buying my own A380 tomorrow than there is of VS adding direct longhaul flights from ABZ and EDI.
S O E
IYHO...
There are numerous reasons why it failed, branding was only one of them. Not enough slots to compete, not situated in the same terminal to name but 2...IMHO
All I know is the those who wish to fly from LHR to Scotland and Manchester will, in the near future, see their fares increase markedly.
This has squat diddily to do with branding.
There are numerous reasons why it failed, branding was only one of them. Not enough slots to compete, not situated in the same terminal to name but 2...IMHO
All I know is the those who wish to fly from LHR to Scotland and Manchester will, in the near future, see their fares increase markedly.
Join Date: Nov 1999
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Sounds like a cue for more copyright pics of exotic locations in Air Glasgow?
Not enough slots to compete
All I know is the those who wish to fly from LHR to Scotland and Manchester will, in the near future, see their fares increase markedly.