Virgin Atlantic
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: EGGW
Posts: 2,097
Virgin Holidays is going to be renamed Virgin Atlantic Holidays and close 15% of there retail stores.
They have not stated they are withdrawing all the B747 fleet as some posts have reported.
They have stated as follows, It will no longer use all of its seven 747s, with four A330s retiring in early 2022 as planned.
The way l read it, they are not going to use all seven, but an unknown number for a period of time.
They have not stated they are withdrawing all the B747 fleet as some posts have reported.
They have stated as follows, It will no longer use all of its seven 747s, with four A330s retiring in early 2022 as planned.
The way l read it, they are not going to use all seven, but an unknown number for a period of time.

Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Northumberland
Posts: 6,655
Virgin Holidays is going to be renamed Virgin Atlantic Holidays and close 15% of there retail stores.
They have not stated they are withdrawing all the B747 fleet as some posts have reported.
They have stated as follows, It will no longer use all of its seven 747s, with four A330s retiring in early 2022 as planned.
The way l read it, they are not going to use all seven, but an unknown number for a period of time.
They have not stated they are withdrawing all the B747 fleet as some posts have reported.
They have stated as follows, It will no longer use all of its seven 747s, with four A330s retiring in early 2022 as planned.
The way l read it, they are not going to use all seven, but an unknown number for a period of time.
Full press release here:
Virgin Atlantic positions itself for post-Covid19 future

Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: uk
Posts: 383
Also from the press release:
As Virgin Atlantic aims to establish itself as the sustainability leader, it will fly only wide-body, twin-engine aircraft from London Heathrow and Manchester to the most popular destinations.
Suggests that sadly the game is up for B744 fleet.
More important than fleet mix, I have friends and ex-colleagues at VS and send best wishes to all at Virgin on such a tough day. I fear many others of us in the industry will be facing tough times in the weeks and months ahead
As Virgin Atlantic aims to establish itself as the sustainability leader, it will fly only wide-body, twin-engine aircraft from London Heathrow and Manchester to the most popular destinations.
Suggests that sadly the game is up for B744 fleet.
More important than fleet mix, I have friends and ex-colleagues at VS and send best wishes to all at Virgin on such a tough day. I fear many others of us in the industry will be facing tough times in the weeks and months ahead

Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: Somewhere else
Posts: 149
Current fleet according to Jethros is 4 x A330-200
10 x A330-300
4 x A350-1000
7 x B747-400
17 x B787-900 Total 42 frames.
According to the press release there will be 36 twins left for 2022, currently 8x A350-900, and 14 x A330-900 on order, even with the B747s and A330 200 going thats still a few too many.
10 x A330-300
4 x A350-1000
7 x B747-400
17 x B787-900 Total 42 frames.
According to the press release there will be 36 twins left for 2022, currently 8x A350-900, and 14 x A330-900 on order, even with the B747s and A330 200 going thats still a few too many.
Last edited by zfw; 5th May 2020 at 15:04. Reason: A330 NOT A300

Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Cardiff
Posts: 750
The A330-900's will replace the current -300's. Of the A330-900 order 8 were from Airbus & 6 from ACL, so wouldn't be surprised if the ACL order gets cancelled. That still leaves 37 even without the 6 ACL aircraft.

Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Blighty
Posts: 4,914
I note that a test booking on Virgin's website still allows me to buy a ticket on 28 May for a Gatwick - Antigua flight. I don't imagine this flight will actually go ahead anyway, but when were Virgin thinking of zero'ing out seat availability, or have they not actually decided *when* they will end flying at Gatwick ? The need for staff consultation under England/Wales employment law prior to redundancies suggests to me that staff based at LGW will remain on the payroll for a while yet

Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Cardiff
Posts: 750

Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Uk
Posts: 216
Virgin Holidays is going to be renamed Virgin Atlantic Holidays and close 15% of there retail stores.
They have not stated they are withdrawing all the B747 fleet as some posts have reported.
They have stated as follows, It will no longer use all of its seven 747s, with four A330s retiring in early 2022 as planned.
The way l read it, they are not going to use all seven, but an unknown number for a period of time.
They have not stated they are withdrawing all the B747 fleet as some posts have reported.
They have stated as follows, It will no longer use all of its seven 747s, with four A330s retiring in early 2022 as planned.
The way l read it, they are not going to use all seven, but an unknown number for a period of time.

Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: London
Posts: 229

Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: London
Posts: 229
May turn out that LHR get a few ‘beach’ destinations but I wouldn’t be surprised if MAN picked up a ANU or similar so I would guess that if they had the spare capacity for a position to GLA/BFS then onto MCO and back then they would. Not out the question but so far they have only mentioned ditching LGW

Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: EGGW
Posts: 2,097
Virgin can't make a statement about the removal of the B747s, without making it clear, (ie It will no longer use all of its seven 747s), it would have been much clearer if they removed the words "use all".
It is no wonder that they had the application for government aid turned down, if that's the best use of English that they have.
It is no wonder that they had the application for government aid turned down, if that's the best use of English that they have.

