Virgin Atlantic
And if BA do that, passengers from Scotland will go on other carriers going to London and the MAN passengers will be on the Virgin trains operating every 20 minutes.
Wee Willie is laughing all the way to the bank; he also wishes for other failures which will cost people their jobs...it's the business we're in, but i do find it distasteful when he revels in others miseries.
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Wee Willie is laughing all the way to the bank; he also wishes for other failures which will cost people their jobs...it's the business we're in, but i do find it distasteful when he revels in others miseries.
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Noticed that Virgin have opened a 'Future Flyers' programme in coordination with CTC Wings and that applicants would be trained onto the A330.
Are VS due any more A330's and if not, is this a) a sign of them possibly ordering more and needing more flight crew or b) are they planning to convert current A330 crew over to the 787-9 or c) just a need for more back up to cover retirements etc.
It had me curious as if anything I thought they'd be training people on the 787.
Are VS due any more A330's and if not, is this a) a sign of them possibly ordering more and needing more flight crew or b) are they planning to convert current A330 crew over to the 787-9 or c) just a need for more back up to cover retirements etc.
It had me curious as if anything I thought they'd be training people on the 787.
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What do we reckon VS's fleet will look like in the future?
I'd have said that a future fleet of...
10 - A330 300's
16 - 787 900's
12(+) - A350 1000's
6-9(+) - A380 800's or 900neo (if its built, could be a better option)
Could be a good shout...
With the A330 300's being replaced with 6-10 A330 900neo's depending what they do some could be replaced at the top end with the A350 1000's?
A380 900neo would beat pretty much any option on CASM, A380 800/800neo could be allright but the 900neo offers more flexibility, unless they took both, which I very much doubt. With the 900neo they could have 6 in a 3 class, very spacious layout, 400-500 pax, revamped upper class suites, above industry standard premium economy and economy, talking 32-34" pitch etc. Maybe stuff like an economy bar/lounge, duty free shop, all the stuff the A380 was supposed to be able to offer basically... On top of that, giving VS the opportunity to show off the luxury and experience they were always famous for but seem to have lost a bit recently. They could then also have maybe 3 aircraft in a 650-750 pax configuration to operate leisure routes from LGW/MAN etc. To replace the upper end of the 747's.
The A350 1000 I think definitely has a good chance after Delta's A330neo/A350 order, this could replace the A346's at Heathrow offering a similar 3 class 320-ish pax configuration and then 400-ish leisure configuration for lower end leisure from LGW/MAN/GLA/BFS etc.
A330 900neo would pretty much repace A330 300's one for one or with some covered by the 789... The 789 just doing what it's doing now, some replacement, some growth etc...
I'd have said that a future fleet of...
10 - A330 300's
16 - 787 900's
12(+) - A350 1000's
6-9(+) - A380 800's or 900neo (if its built, could be a better option)
Could be a good shout...
With the A330 300's being replaced with 6-10 A330 900neo's depending what they do some could be replaced at the top end with the A350 1000's?
A380 900neo would beat pretty much any option on CASM, A380 800/800neo could be allright but the 900neo offers more flexibility, unless they took both, which I very much doubt. With the 900neo they could have 6 in a 3 class, very spacious layout, 400-500 pax, revamped upper class suites, above industry standard premium economy and economy, talking 32-34" pitch etc. Maybe stuff like an economy bar/lounge, duty free shop, all the stuff the A380 was supposed to be able to offer basically... On top of that, giving VS the opportunity to show off the luxury and experience they were always famous for but seem to have lost a bit recently. They could then also have maybe 3 aircraft in a 650-750 pax configuration to operate leisure routes from LGW/MAN etc. To replace the upper end of the 747's.
The A350 1000 I think definitely has a good chance after Delta's A330neo/A350 order, this could replace the A346's at Heathrow offering a similar 3 class 320-ish pax configuration and then 400-ish leisure configuration for lower end leisure from LGW/MAN/GLA/BFS etc.
A330 900neo would pretty much repace A330 300's one for one or with some covered by the 789... The 789 just doing what it's doing now, some replacement, some growth etc...
6-9(+) - A380 800's or 900neo (if its built, could be a better option)
Merry Christmas EK77WNCL
virgin will not ever likely take the A380 nor its variants (if were built)
the new CEO craig has already said as much that its 6 options already deferred since from 2004 until 2018 will be cancelled outright or could be changed to a330neos or a350 order
but as it stands the 6 options are still in situ for the a380 with a 2018 decision time
twins and fuel eco are the way to go with VS
VS ordered 15 of the 787-9 - with options on ordering another eight 787-9s and purchase rights on a further 20 aircraft. for quick delivery which will see all the a340's and LHR 747's gone.
the 777x is being mooted as is the -10 version of the 787
the leisure 747's are a niche fleet at LGW and the outstations for a few more years yet but it's mooted the whole holiday fleet and those routes may get sold off to a buyer if found such as a tour operator so to concentrate on the Delta tie-up and the USA expansion
the new CEO craig has already said as much that its 6 options already deferred since from 2004 until 2018 will be cancelled outright or could be changed to a330neos or a350 order
but as it stands the 6 options are still in situ for the a380 with a 2018 decision time
twins and fuel eco are the way to go with VS
VS ordered 15 of the 787-9 - with options on ordering another eight 787-9s and purchase rights on a further 20 aircraft. for quick delivery which will see all the a340's and LHR 747's gone.
the 777x is being mooted as is the -10 version of the 787
the leisure 747's are a niche fleet at LGW and the outstations for a few more years yet but it's mooted the whole holiday fleet and those routes may get sold off to a buyer if found such as a tour operator so to concentrate on the Delta tie-up and the USA expansion
Last edited by rog747; 24th Dec 2014 at 15:56.
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the leisure 747's are a niche fleet at LGW and the outstations for a few more years yet but it's mooted the whole holiday fleet and those routes may get sold off to a buyer if found such as a tour operator so to concentrate on the Delta tie-up and the USA expansion
its all about yields and costs not ness load factors
the leisure fleet/routes may not be a good 'fit' with the delta expansion
747's are fuel heavy and do not seat many premium J pax
the leisure fleet/routes may not be a good 'fit' with the delta expansion
747's are fuel heavy and do not seat many premium J pax
Rog, their 747s are said to be the most fuel efficient aircraft in the fleet on a per seat basis, so not sure where you get that idea from. On the leisure operation, I suspect if it makes money (which surely it does??) then Delta will like it. If it loses money, they'll dislike it. That's where their interest in anything starts, continues and ends.
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I'm aware the A380's are looking doubtfuly, extremely doubtful... Impossibly doubtful, but I still think that, feeling brave enough, VS could definitely find a place for it both in their leisure fleet and, as I said, for a really high end 747 replacement, routes like JFK etc. (I don't know any more of VS's cash cows, if they exist). Even a 3/3 business/leisure split
Although it is wishful thinking the A350 1000 is more likely... Maybe 779 as they come with 789 commonality (IIRC) but I dunno, it's up to them at the end of the day. I think SRB would still have the A380's if he could, just for status, and I for one don't blame him.
Although it is wishful thinking the A350 1000 is more likely... Maybe 779 as they come with 789 commonality (IIRC) but I dunno, it's up to them at the end of the day. I think SRB would still have the A380's if he could, just for status, and I for one don't blame him.
If it does get sold off look for SRB to take it wholly himself.
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If VS were to take any of their A380 options they would most certainly be best suited on the LHR - JFK route. I could see possibly LHR - LAX/SFO working and maybe MAN - LAS a couple of times a week.
But, like other posters have commented, it is unlikely VS will get any A380s and if they do, I see it being for the status and branding. But that's just my opinion, and I have no scientific backing to that latter postulation.
But, like other posters have commented, it is unlikely VS will get any A380s and if they do, I see it being for the status and branding. But that's just my opinion, and I have no scientific backing to that latter postulation.
virgin have deferred the 6 a380 options for the past 10 years with four more years left to finally decide until 2018
but the new CEO has clearly hinted they do not fit in future plans and VS are unlikely to ever take them up
SRB has also seeked for some time to offload his remaining 51% of VAA - thus he would not be buying the leisure fleet as a standalone company -
BUT now he has just ordered 2 cruise liners for almost £2bn for the new Virgin Cruises it beggars belief what may now happen as you need aircraft to fly the pax in for the ships unless he is purely concentrating on the US markets to fill them - could be all change who knows now
but the new CEO has clearly hinted they do not fit in future plans and VS are unlikely to ever take them up
SRB has also seeked for some time to offload his remaining 51% of VAA - thus he would not be buying the leisure fleet as a standalone company -
BUT now he has just ordered 2 cruise liners for almost £2bn for the new Virgin Cruises it beggars belief what may now happen as you need aircraft to fly the pax in for the ships unless he is purely concentrating on the US markets to fill them - could be all change who knows now
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I will be very sad to see the 74's go, especially Lady P who first got me into aviation. Was hoping to fly her home from JFK as she regularly operates VS9/10 but she went in for maintenance a week before
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Two questions about the rumours above of the 'leisure' operations being sold off...
1. Who would buy it/want it?
2. What would happen to Virgin Holidays who surely contribute a decent number of passengers to the 'leisure' flights and have a 'V-Room' at MAN for use by Virgin Holidays passengers?
I'll believe that when I see it, but for now I'm inclined to believe it's rubbish, though stranger things have happened.
1. Who would buy it/want it?
2. What would happen to Virgin Holidays who surely contribute a decent number of passengers to the 'leisure' flights and have a 'V-Room' at MAN for use by Virgin Holidays passengers?
I'll believe that when I see it, but for now I'm inclined to believe it's rubbish, though stranger things have happened.
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MAN - MCO could easily take an A380 daily as replacement for the double daily 747 service.
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If Virgin wanted to restructure itself into a shape that allows Delta to buy it out, it would have to terminate UK domestic operations (done), terminate UK to non US destinations (still WIP but largely done) and sell off the beach fleet.
Highly credible rumour if you ask me.
Highly credible rumour if you ask me.