A380 delayed

VS first A380 will now not enter service until early 2008!!!!

As some key airports will not be ready for its arrival, the order has been deferred for 18 months.

However this will not effect VS growth plans!!

[:0]

Such a shame as 2006 doesnt seem that long away, but 2008... Ill be 27!!! [:(]

B+Q does some very nice long ladders you know......

quote:Originally posted by declansmith

VS first A380 will now not enter service until early 2008!!!!

As some key airports will not be ready for its arrival, the order has been deferred for 18 months.

However this will not effect VS growth plans!!

declansmith, are you sure about this? Very recent PRs from Airbus claim initial deliveries will be in 2006. Do you have a link to a news article?

oops

Declan said:

http://www.v-flyer.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=960

quote:SQ will be the launch customer for the A380 in the first quarter of 2006 and Virgin will get there first one June 2006!!!! not 2007!!!

They will be the first airline to fly transtlantic and the aircraft will have high density J cabins like the LHR747.

Virgin have an order for 6 which makes sense to have them in all the same config, its not only easier for the crew but also makes sense commercially.

I beleive the A380 will NOT be flying from LGW!!!

Upper class seats are not in high demand from LGW so its makes perfect sense to have the A380 from LHR.

I wonder who is right!!

Place your bets!!

Not really true now is it?

This is what I said and I wish I had followed it through...

quote:I would really put money on the A388 being delayed into service.

Oh yeah, the person who stole that from the intranet be very weary as it does state at the bottom that you cant take content from there and post it outside the company.

Guys, please take it easy. We really value having participation from all VS insiders here at V-Flyer, whoever they might be (!) but I think it would be good to keep the personal comments to a minimum.

Oh, and please don't let the easy application of the cut and paste keys lead you down the path of breaking any VS rules. The last thing anyone wants is for you guys to get in trouble for your participation here.

BC

[Bazz]

Further to BC's comments above, I have edited Kaddyuk's post to remove the offending verbage. This is a community and that sort of language will not be tolerated.

According to the Sunday Times a spokesman claimed one of the reasons for the delivery delay was because VS "needed more time to work out in flight service details.."

Alex

[Bazz]

That may well be a contributory factor, however I am sure the main problem is with the airports' infrastucture, the changes/improvements necessary are very significant, require detailed planning and in most cases months (if not years) of work, it looks like the original dates were just too ambitious.

[ChuckC]

Here's the latest from Reuters on this thread:

Virgin Postpones A380 Deliveries Over Airport Issues, But LAX Says it Will be Ready

Reuters reported yesterday that Virgin Atlantic Airways said Monday it has reached an agreement with Airbus to defer its order of Airbus A380 super jumbos due to concerns over the preparedness of its destination airports in being able to handle the aircraft. In particular, the carrier singled out Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), a charge the airport is denying.

Virgin Atlantic, which had been scheduled to receive its first A380s in 2006, but now reportedly will receive its first plane in 2007 with the additional five on order arriving in 2008 and 2009.

For its decision, Virgin cited delays by some of its destination airports to adequately accommodate the mammoth plane. With 555 passengers in a three-class layout, most airports are designing special gate areas for the double deck plane in order to load passengers through two doors on each level at the same time.

"We're still committed to the A380...but we really only want to fly with it in our livery when we're confident we can deliver the onboard service and airport level service which were designed for this aircraft," a Virgin Atlantic spokesperson told Reuters. "We still have real concerns that some airports, particularly Los Angeles, will not be able to deliver that for 2006.

Meanwhile, LAX yesterday said it will be ready for the A380 by 2006 and Airbus has said that no other planned A380 operators have requested delivery deferrals.

Regards to all,
Chuck

Has anyone heard any stories about Clubhouse expansion? The reason I ask is that the VAA press release one of the reasons for delay being delivery of "airport services". Now of course this covers taxi ways, airbridges, customs etc etc, but what about clubhouses.

For example the LHR clubhouse can get a bit busy in the morning at the moment If you put 380s on several of those lunchtime flights, with a larger J load, then the clubhouse will become a reral squeeze. I wonder if VAA have plans to increase clubhouse size to meet the increases pax numbers they can expect when the A380 comes into service.

Just a theory, any comments?

VSlf

The LHR Clubhouse is being extended long before then anyway, should
be done before the end of the year. Incorporating the abandoned Air Canada lounge next door.

[Bazz]

There are plans for significant changes to the LHR Clubhouse, Mr Mannion knows more on this topic and may be willing to share some of his knowledge with us, please Richard...

In LAX VS have no Clubhouse, currently offering UC passengers shared access to the AC Mapleleaf Lounge in T2. Hopefully with the A380's introduction we may eventually see a proper VS Clubhouse at LAX, which is IMHO long overdue on what is a premier route for them.

I've just seen in Flight that South African Airways are now considering the A380, specifically for London flights. One reason given was the threat from VS using there to CPT and JNB.

quote:Originally posted by Bazz

In LAX VS have no Clubhouse, currently offering UC passengers shared access to the AC Mapleleaf Lounge in T2. Hopefully with the A380's introduction we may eventually see a proper VS Clubhouse at LAX, which is IMHO long overdue on what is a premier route for them.

Couldn't agree more, Bazz! It's shocking to think VS have two flights a day from LAX and no Clubhouse. The AC lounge is the pits compared to the service on offer from the VS Clubhouse in SFO.

Does anyone know why there's no VS Clubhouse?

Cheers

Buffers

Sorry, forgot to mention that there is one saving grace at LAX -- the lovely Tiina!

[Bazz]

Buffers, the story seems to be that there is just not enough room in T2. I guess with the A380 they will build a new terminal or significantly redesign one of the existing ones and this may allow VS to have it's own Clubhouse, fingers (and everything else) crossed.

[RichardMannion]

No room at LAX for a VS Clubhouse - they'd love to have one as its been pointe dout it is a premier route with 2 busy flights a day and a healthy supply of J traffic too. Space is the issue, remember that VS don't operate out of the International terminal at LAX.

Ahh LHR Clubhouse - lets just say that VS really wants to make this the flagship lounge. It will be huge compared to the already bustling facility. Wi-Fi Internet Access for sure, and they are looking at proper kitchen facilites too, potentially with a proper 'salad bar' concept where you can help yourself to a selection of food. I've been quoted an investment of between £12-15m for the new facility. All in good time

Thanks,
Richard