virgin's old a340's

just wondering if anyone can tell me if or when the old arcadia a340's are going to leave the fleet?
thanks
Airbus340

I'm hoping it's soon Seriously though, I suspect this will wait until a few new A346's come into service, freeing the A343's up. I see the registrations for the new aircraft have been issued but I've not read about delivery dates - it would be nice to know.

David.

The last of the non UCS A340-300s is scheduled to leave the fleet by December 2006.

(By the way the Arcadia A340s are not that old!)

G-VWKD should be delivered this month, might be delayed though I'm not sure. The next one after that, G-VHIP should be delivered in February.

jus read in vk section v-bus is going or has gone to vk anyone know more about this?

Originally posted by Airbus340
jus read in vk section v-bus is going or has gone to vk anyone know more about this?

Yes, it has

Pictures of it in its VK livery

I believe VBUS is still a VS a/c despite the Summer paintjob - Otherwise it would have been registered and would not be VBUS. How exactly it is being utilised still remains a bit of a blur although this thread may throw some light on it.

In any event VBUS is still regularly being used on the DEL flight so definetly still VS - unless it is being leased back

Phil

P.S. Wouldn't be too surprised if the handover is linked to the delivery of VWKD.

I think VS have been trying to keep them going as long as possible without widening the gap between an A343 and A346 (for example). Finally, they've been able to resist the urge of keeping the arcadias to start new routed and are phasing them out. I understand that VS wants to start new routes with the extra A346s and just keep the A343s for the existing network, but the difference in experience does certainly not make for a consistant level of service (I'm resisting the temptation of mentioning GNFs;))

Cheers,
VS045

Booked on VS009 in a few days time, just watch me get G-VFLY and Arcadia [n]

Was hoping when I made the booking to get a 346, but best hope now looks like a 343 (hopefully not G-VFLY) going by the latest movements on that route

Originally posted by Jon B
Booked on VS009 in a few days time, just watch me get G-VFLY and Arcadia [n]

Was hoping when I made the booking to get a 346, but best hope now looks like a 343 (hopefully not G-VFLY) going by the latest movements on that route

You should be able to tell from the seat map on the VS website seat selection screen if it is a suite equipped A343.

If it is, then you know that you will get Odyssey IFE (unless there's a tech issue on the day of course!!)

Jon B: at the moment - and it could change subject to requirements etc so it's not set in stone, the VS9 is operating on the following:

17th Nov: G-VFAR
18th Nov: G-VAEL
19th Nov: G-VFAR
20th Nov: G-VAEL
21st Nov: G-VFAR
22nd Nov: G-VSUN
23rd Nov: G-VFAR
24th Nov: G-VAIR
25th Nov: G-VFAR
26th Nov: G-VAIR
27th Nov: G-VFAR
28th Nov: G-VAIR
29th Nov: G-VFAR
30th Nov: G-VAIR

Thanks for the info Richard & G-VOPS [y]

Will keep my fingers crossed for G-VAIR on the 24th. Any reason VS switched back from 346's to 343's on this route G-VOPS?

Not sure that detailing aircraft allocation is very good on the public domain?????

[Scrooge]

Originally posted by Jon B
Thanks for the info Richard & G-VOPS [y]

Will keep my fingers crossed for G-VAIR on the 24th. Any reason VS switched back from 346's to 343's on this route G-VOPS?

It could vbe for a few reasons,the load factor or an aircraft needs some work done on it..keep checking as it may switch back to a 346 if the loads go up.