Virgin - 2
 

The Bearded One (Branson) has just been on a Radio 4 programme, and he said 'we're trying to buy British Midland'.
Is this known (as opposed to rumoured)?
If you want to hear it, you can listen to the programme 'The Bottom Line' via Radio 4's section of the BBC website.

It has been a rumour doing the rounds at LHR for a couple of years more so this year as Bishop has taken a back seat, they seem to have an issue as to the product delivery. it would compliment Virgin who have tried a number of ways of getting a foothold into Europe. It would get past the monopoly comission maybe.

Maybe
 

I haven't heard the interview yet, but I understand that this was almost a slip of the tongue from RB. I personally think that it is a very good idea, provided that bmi and Virgin look quite seriously at the bmi mainline product, and the function of baby and regional.

I think that the branding of the product would have to be looked at quite carefully as well, with perhaps "Virgin-bmi" or similar being used. But please keep the stuning bmi 'swoopy-curvy' thing they have going on. It looks soooo well. It screams class IMO, and is very distinctive.

Im not sure that baby could survive the merger though, and I suspect that its routes would be either merged into mainline, or regional. Is its cost base actually that much lower than bmi? Perhaps a fleet of E-195s could take over the regional and baby flights, while VS and bmi @ LHR merge into one?

Whatever happens I dont think that VS would sell off baby, as it could feed a lot of flights at MAN. I suspect there could be a rebranding and refleeting. Now that could really give BACON a battering!

So yes although there are issues with regards to the merger, I think that done correctly it could be really successful. I think that RB could be trying to integrate all of the Virgin airlines a little better, so there could be massive network possibilities when Nigeria, Blue and America are taken into account.

I have listened to the interview twice online on the BBC, and have heard no mention of a purchase of Bmi? unless I sneezed at the time, has this been now edited?

Yup, it is said at around the 04:30 minutes mark. I'm not quite sure I fully understood it in the context of what was being discussed (the environment and "fuels of the future") but then that is because I was specifically listening out for mention of bmi I guess.

How about VS eyeing up GB especially with the rumours about the franchise next year....

Jat A1 - what are the GB rumours re the fanchise? Or can you point me in the right place to look?

Theres a few GB rumours floating around on the cabin crew forum but if you want fuel for that particular fire I can tell you that Virgin will be doing the maint enance on GB's a/c at LGW,MAN and LHR from 24th Nov this year.

Is this a first for VS LHR maintenance (working on IAE 320s) or do they do it for other NB operators too? If it is a first one could say it is a handy warmup for taking on a fleet of light blue 319s...

A380-Virgin delays purchase - 4 years...
 

News report

I cant help but feel this is the first of several delays/cancellations.
SQ seem to be the only carrier dedicated to the project.

Never did see how it would fit into the VS operation :confused:

Virgin is the only carrier who has expressed a desire to delay their deliveries. They are still dedicated to the program (programme, whatever...)

One doesn't immediately shoot the cow due to a failure to produce milk - one must be patient and offer more or better fodder, a bit of TLC, then wait for the results. Neither does one get out of the queue for another show which one doesn't really want to see, just because the original show is late beginning. Likewise, if the product is there but must be proven but WILL deliver as stated, one must be patient. Airbus' commitment to the market is to offer a mature (not manure) product to its customers. They have demonstrated, with the 4 ELF flights, that the a/c is in approval mode - dare I say, could be delivery-ready much earlier than speculated - but must appease the officials for final approvals. Don't count them out, nor believe the rumors (aw, hell, rumours, then!) about cancellations; until the airline or operator goes to the press and says, "We've had it," all else is rumor. Proof is in the pudding...

Cheers, y'all.

I wonder if the delay is really to rustle up enough money to buy BMI in the meantime, then go for the A380 after the money has been clawed back after its purchase?

Virgin A380
 

Why would they buy bmi? London slots?

Besides wanting the aircraft to prove itself commercially, what are other reasons for wanting a 4 year delay?

I would have thought so with VS only having 5% of LHR slots

Although at Manchester it will be sub contracted out to someone else.

Wasn't VS a very early A340 user and had lots of teething problems? That would seem to explain why they wouldn't want to be an A380 pioneer.

But why place the order in the first place?

Their owner (well 49% owner) Singapore, had something to do with this delay.