Virgin Domestic
Let's see - UK airline that operates A319s, ideally with an existing operation at Manchester and capable of doing 3 round trips per day between Manchester and Heathrow for Sir Beardy..... I know - Easyjet !
Last edited by davidjohnson6; 21st Aug 2012 at 13:40.
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Virgin starting Short Haul Ops!
BBC News - Virgin Atlantic to fly between Scotland and Heathrow
Interesting times ahead with the announcement of MAN - LHR services starting next March and talk of Scottish routes also!
December will be interesting when they announce the result of the BA/bmi slot bids that they have applied for!
Interesting times ahead with the announcement of MAN - LHR services starting next March and talk of Scottish routes also!
December will be interesting when they announce the result of the BA/bmi slot bids that they have applied for!
Virgin Domestic. Call sign Vee Dee? Perhaps not eh? 
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I dont understand why Virgin dont just sell their LHR slots to someone (other than BA), and move lock stock and barrel to become an anchor tenant at LGW.
They could have far more flexibility there, lower costs plus LGW is attracting more and more long haul traffic and Im sure would snap up the idea to turn LGW into a genuine hub airport to compete with LHR. If they really want to compete with BA then that should do the trick?!
They could have far more flexibility there, lower costs plus LGW is attracting more and more long haul traffic and Im sure would snap up the idea to turn LGW into a genuine hub airport to compete with LHR. If they really want to compete with BA then that should do the trick?!
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Originally Posted by Jack1985
If the new short haul services are anything like Virgin America they might just pull this off, although then again Virgin America is still losing money.
Last edited by dublinaviator; 21st Aug 2012 at 17:01.
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These slots for the MAN route are not the ones IAG are being forced to give up, these are being established using existing slots that were previously leased to another airline.
VS are still looking to get all the IAG slots in addition to the ones they alreasy own.
VS are still looking to get all the IAG slots in addition to the ones they alreasy own.
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This from the travel agents site VSFLYINGHUB
Virgin Atlantic has just announced plans to fly domestic services from London Heathrow to Manchester Airport from March 2013.This new route is the first time we’ve flown domestically within the UK, signalling the start of a new network providing us with a regional feed for our long haul services, as well as a much needed choice for passengers flying between the two cities.
While we’re going to apply for all of the remedy slots being awarded following the IAG takeover of BMI, these new flights are being established using existing slots that were previously leased to another airline.
Manchester is a key airport for us, with over 65% of people who fly to London connecting to other flights, the majority to destinations we already serve, including Boston, Cape Town and Hong Kong.
Virgin Atlantic Chief Executive Steve Ridgway said “Flying between Heathrow and Manchester is just the start for our new short haul operation. We have the means to connect thousands of passengers to our long haul network as well as to destinations served by other carriers. Our new service will provide strong competition to omnipresent BA. It will keep fares low and give consumers a genuine choice of airline to fly to Heathrow and beyond.
Timetable
We’ll be operating three daily flights to Manchester from 31 March 2013. The flights will operate from London Heathrow Terminal 1 to Manchester Airport Terminal 3, using A319 aircraft.
VS3041*31MAR13*26OCT13*LHR*0920*MAN*1020
VS3042*31MAR13*26OCT13*MAN*1220*LHR*1330
VS3043*31MAR13*26OCT13*LHR*1610*MAN*1710
VS3044*31MAR13*26OCT13*MAN*1750*LHR*1900
VS3045*31MAR13*26OCT13*LHR*2010*MAN*2110
VS3046*31MAR13*26OCT13*MAN*0650*LHR*0800
Products and service
Watch this space regarding more details about our domestic onboard service. We’re not going to reveal the details quite yet, but you can rest assured passengers on these flights will our usual innovative approach to inflight products and service.
What we can confirm is that Upper Class passengers and Flying Club Gold members connecting to one of our long haul services will enjoy access to partner lounges in London Heathrow Terminal 1 and Manchester Airport Terminal 3. Limo services will also be available to Upper Class passengers travelling on selected fares from Manchester and connecting to one of our long haul flights at Heathrow.
How to book
Until your GDS has been updated, these flights are only available to book now by calling our Reservation Centre on 0844 209 7777.
All GDS systems will be updated and you’ll be able to book tickets from 27 August onwards.
Virgin Atlantic has just announced plans to fly domestic services from London Heathrow to Manchester Airport from March 2013.This new route is the first time we’ve flown domestically within the UK, signalling the start of a new network providing us with a regional feed for our long haul services, as well as a much needed choice for passengers flying between the two cities.
While we’re going to apply for all of the remedy slots being awarded following the IAG takeover of BMI, these new flights are being established using existing slots that were previously leased to another airline.
Manchester is a key airport for us, with over 65% of people who fly to London connecting to other flights, the majority to destinations we already serve, including Boston, Cape Town and Hong Kong.
Virgin Atlantic Chief Executive Steve Ridgway said “Flying between Heathrow and Manchester is just the start for our new short haul operation. We have the means to connect thousands of passengers to our long haul network as well as to destinations served by other carriers. Our new service will provide strong competition to omnipresent BA. It will keep fares low and give consumers a genuine choice of airline to fly to Heathrow and beyond.
Timetable
We’ll be operating three daily flights to Manchester from 31 March 2013. The flights will operate from London Heathrow Terminal 1 to Manchester Airport Terminal 3, using A319 aircraft.
VS3041*31MAR13*26OCT13*LHR*0920*MAN*1020
VS3042*31MAR13*26OCT13*MAN*1220*LHR*1330
VS3043*31MAR13*26OCT13*LHR*1610*MAN*1710
VS3044*31MAR13*26OCT13*MAN*1750*LHR*1900
VS3045*31MAR13*26OCT13*LHR*2010*MAN*2110
VS3046*31MAR13*26OCT13*MAN*0650*LHR*0800
Products and service
Watch this space regarding more details about our domestic onboard service. We’re not going to reveal the details quite yet, but you can rest assured passengers on these flights will our usual innovative approach to inflight products and service.
What we can confirm is that Upper Class passengers and Flying Club Gold members connecting to one of our long haul services will enjoy access to partner lounges in London Heathrow Terminal 1 and Manchester Airport Terminal 3. Limo services will also be available to Upper Class passengers travelling on selected fares from Manchester and connecting to one of our long haul flights at Heathrow.
How to book
Until your GDS has been updated, these flights are only available to book now by calling our Reservation Centre on 0844 209 7777.
All GDS systems will be updated and you’ll be able to book tickets from 27 August onwards.
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Does any one think the aircraft is coming from Virgin America? Would be quite a good tie-in, but they have first class etc... They have leased aircraft before to Skybus.
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There are some rumours on the bmi regional forum about anairbus contract. I don’t know the details and maybe barking up the wrongtree. But is there any possibility theywould be getting A319s, which could be a potential operator for this VSventure?
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Completely random guess here but what about he a319s being supplied and crewed by the Aer Lingus BFS base. Looking at the schedule the early MAN would probably need an overnighting crew unless the plan is to fly from City to MAN early and then to LHR. I would have thought a Belfast, LHR, MAN and back rotation would be a good 4 sector day.
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I dont understand why Virgin dont just sell their LHR slots to someone (other than BA), and move lock stock and barrel to become an anchor tenant at LGW.
Manchester is a key airport for us, with over 65% of people who fly to London connecting to other flights, the majority to destinations we already serve, including Boston, Cape Town and Hong Kong.