Virgin Atlantic
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Leeds, UK & Cork, Ireland
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Those are interesting adds. Suggests that VS are investing in new routes outside their traditional USA routes. I think they are good additions. With strong VFR and good business ties between Pakistan and the UK they seem sensible bets for early demand recovery. Less positively, the market is quite price sensitive, well served via the Middle East and TK and I think the VS brand might not be a 100% fit for the market. In any case, I think these are simultaneously sensible and brave choices for the airline.
I imagine they might get some transfers from the US too, in the future.
I imagine they might get some transfers from the US too, in the future.
Join Date: Mar 2004
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It's surely an opportunistic move based on the absence of PIA from the market due to the EU air carrier ban. Can't fault them for it - if you had spare aircraft and crews and saw a gap in the market, that's exactly what you should be doing - but it doesn't feel like a wider strategic network plan. I guess the only strategic plan that matters for Virgin Atlantic right now is survival though.
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Virgin have been looking at Pakistan for a long time - remember talking to a member of staff about it but there were security concerns. These presumably have now been mitigated or are less of a concern
Join Date: Dec 2008
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Security less of a concern in the face of financial collapse. How very like an airline. I can only imagine what the crews must be thinking.
Join Date: May 2016
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I’m sure that’s not what the majority of their crew are thinking. I know it’s 2020 and one isn’t allowed to speak the truth, but that’s what it is.
Paxing All Over The World
Virgin Atlantic’s $1.6 Billion Rescue Approved by U.K. Court
Bloomberg
Bloomberg
Richard Branson’s Virgin empire has faced many challenges in its five-decade history, from high-profile legal clashes with British Airways and failed bids to run the U.K. national lottery to abortive forays into vodka, cola and bridal wear.
The setbacks have been so numerous that overcoming them has become part of the Virgin DNA. Yet the six-month battle to save Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd. has been a case apart, involving as it has the business that first truly took the group global and remains its best-known brand.
The battle to stop the carrier from becoming one of the highest-profile corporate victims of the coronavirus crisis was finally sealed on Wednesday after a U.K. court gave the go-ahead for a 1.2 billion-pound ($1.6 billion) rescue built around a loan from private-equity firm Davidson Kempner Capital Management.
The setbacks have been so numerous that overcoming them has become part of the Virgin DNA. Yet the six-month battle to save Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd. has been a case apart, involving as it has the business that first truly took the group global and remains its best-known brand.
The battle to stop the carrier from becoming one of the highest-profile corporate victims of the coronavirus crisis was finally sealed on Wednesday after a U.K. court gave the go-ahead for a 1.2 billion-pound ($1.6 billion) rescue built around a loan from private-equity firm Davidson Kempner Capital Management.
Join Date: Feb 2002
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Join Date: Sep 2019
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A350 coming to Barbados
Per Airline Route update, LHR-BGI will be operated by the A350 on a daily basis starting 14th December, replacing A330-300. I believe this is the first time we will be seeing VS venture into the Caribbean with their latest and largest flagship a/c, now that the 744 has been withdrawn from service. As of yet VS have still been unclear as to whether they plan to go ahead with a leisure configuration of the final 5 A350s, given their current financial situation and the withdrawal of LGW operations.
Per Airline Route update, LHR-BGI will be operated by the A350 on a daily basis starting 14th December, replacing A330-300. I believe this is the first time we will be seeing VS venture into the Caribbean with their latest and largest flagship a/c, now that the 744 has been withdrawn from service. As of yet VS have still been unclear as to whether they plan to go ahead with a leisure configuration of the final 5 A350s, given their current financial situation and the withdrawal of LGW operations.
I'd be surprised if the A330 fleet was re-activated any time soon given where the market currently is
There's also at least 3 A350s ready at TLS that are not in any way needed for the foreseeable future either. Winter is going to be "interesting".....
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Join Date: Nov 2019
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One of the 3 is believed to be due at Manchester tomorrow, with another following later this month. The first was placed on the UK register in the last few days, which normally means delivery is imminent. Whether they will fly again for a while after delivery, or are just taking the parking spaces being vacated by departing 744s at MAN is anyone’s guess.
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A332s
Any updates on what VS are intending to do with the A332 fleet, in particular, G-VMNK which was repositioned to DUS earlier in August? To my knowledge and Airline Route, A332 scheduling going into winter and summer 21 seems to be very sparse, if non existent at present, as nearly all the Caribbean programme has mostly been taken over by the A333s and 789s since moving to LHR. Given their now limited role in the VS network, are the A330-200s being retired earlier instead of 2022 as originally planned?
Join Date: Sep 2012
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Timings and start dates for the new Pakistan flights are up. 787's to be used on all flights. Interesting that the MAN flights launch first...
https://www.routesonline.com/news/38...from-dec-2020/
It would seem the A330's will be back in use before the year's out unless things change again (also note MAN-BGI goes up to 5 flights per week from January 2021 which seems to be a new high)...
https://www.routesonline.com/news/38...ncy-additions/
https://www.routesonline.com/news/38...from-dec-2020/
The A330s are still grounded so far as I know, LHR-BGI is currently on the B789 as Virgin are only flying with two active fleets, B789/A350.
I'd be surprised if the A330 fleet was re-activated any time soon given where the market currently is
There's also at least 3 A350s ready at TLS that are not in any way needed for the foreseeable future either. Winter is going to be "interesting".....
I'd be surprised if the A330 fleet was re-activated any time soon given where the market currently is
There's also at least 3 A350s ready at TLS that are not in any way needed for the foreseeable future either. Winter is going to be "interesting".....
https://www.routesonline.com/news/38...ncy-additions/
Join Date: Feb 2013
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