Virgin Atlantic Equipment To JNB?

[BAe 146-100]

Hi,

I was wondering what aircraft type VS use mostly on the LHR-JNB service? Is it the A340-300 or 747-400?

Thanks :)
BAe 146-100

[PAXboy]

It varies throughout the week and season, according to load. If you look at their on-line schedule, you will see that some days the 601 (outbound) and 602 (inbound) have an extra 30 mins on the schedule. When 601 lands later and departs earlier - then it is the 340. The actual time diff is about 20 mins but it is easier to put 30 on the schedule.

When I came back in February, it was scheduled to be 747 but the load was light and it was the 340, so I was nearly caught out by the earlier departure.

Not sure about 603/4 on the seasonal CPT run. I came back on the 604 a couple of years ago and it was the Airbus. That flight is unusual in being a daylight return, so you get to see North Africa and the Sahara - a fabulous sight.

Great service on this route, I've been in Premium E. and Upper on this route a number of times and always enjoy it.

[RUDAS]

Hi there. I can confirm that VS has been using the a343 on the joburg route since the european summer (we get vs601/602 daily).This is due to the lighter loads. they revert back to using the 744 in november i believe, since that is the start of our summer here and the begining of the holiday season.
as for cpt, they are also currently using the 343, and this switches in october i believe, to the 744.

We also had about two very unusual visits in March from their new 346's,when the SARS outbreak meant that they had lighter loads to the far east.

Hope that helps

[BAe 146-100]

Hi,

Thanks PAXboy and RUDAS :ok:. We are planning to fly in February 2004 to JNB with VS. So I guess that it would be the A340-300.

BAe 146-100 :)

[RUDAS]

hi there. yeah i guess it will be the a343,as february is just after the african summer holiday season, although it is still a pretty busy time tourism wise, so you might just get a 744.as PAXBOY said, they do alternate, although this is only really during the few weeks i between "peak" and "low" seasons.Hope you enjoy your stay in our beautiful country.

[BAe 146-100]

Hi,

Just checked on Travelocity and its down as a 747-400 for the flights we want.

BAe 146-100 :)

[B Sousa]

If your traveling Code Share, its wise to check. Last month there was a week period where standbys did not get on.....also make sure you get manifested in both places as things dont get passed on....

[USE THE RUDDERS]

Always used to be an A343 when I was flying down from 2000 but then in late 2001 B744 used to do the route on a Mon and Fri and when the demand warranted it, don't know if its still the same.
Also I think from Jan if you check the Virgin website the A346 is due to come online.

[tired]

Guys, the correct gen is as follows! :)

We have been using the A343 to JNB during the European summer. On 26 October it will change to the 744 and will remain on the Jumbo until the end of next April when it reverts to the 340 - not sure whether it will be the -300 or -600 but suspect it will be the 300. The 600 will only fly the route this (European) winter if there are tech problems with the -400.

Virgin recommences CPT flights on 26 October, and from then on it will be 3 times a week year round (we haven't been operating to CPT since April), except for about 3 or 4 weeks over Chrsitmas when it goes to 5/week. That route will be flown by the 343, again unless tech. problems make it necessary to put a 600 on.

And before someone asks - yes, after an initial 6 months on the 300, the Airbus fleet pilots fly both the 300 and 600, so a last-minute aircraft change rarely causes any crewing problems.

Hope that answers all possible questions! :)

(PS Information correct at time of going to press :) but in Virgin things can change rapidly. ;) )

[RUDAS]

Hi there TIRED, just a bit of a query, I was in CPT just 2 weeks ago and i saw a VS A343 there.I think it was G-VSKY.Dont know if i read your info wrong but it seems they are currently flying to CPT?

[tired]

RUDAS - don't know for sure, but they were probably doing crew training, sometimes the JNB aeroplane, which sits on the ground for 12 hours, is used to get in extra sectors during the day for someone under line training.

The CPT schedule restarts on 26 October - I know, because I've been desparately trying to shaft my colleagues to get rostered for it! :) (No luck so far! :( )

For info, for the southern summer - ie until April, there are flights ex-LHR at 1700Z on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday evenings, returning northbound the following morning (0720Z departure), except for those couple of weeks over Christmas when there are 5 flights a week, can't remember the days.

[BAe 146-100]

Hi,

What IFE do VS have on the A340-300?

Thanks
BAe 146-100

[tired]

Umm - now you've got me, I sit the other side of the flight deck door!! The -300 still has the old style IFE that we've had for years, they're not retrofitting the new all-singing,all-dancing type that the 600 has. Actually 2 different types on the -300, one is Arcadia, ******ed if I can remember what the other is.

For what it's worth, there're going to be about half a dozen -600 flights to CPT over the Christmas period - the Tuesday and Friday flights (ex-LHR) and a couple of Sunday flights. So any reggie-spotters out there, there's your chance!!

And before anyone asks, yes it was a -600 (G-VSHY) in JNB on Wednesday this week - -300 went tech.