V-Flyer

Just returned from SFO and on the outward flight on June 3rd on G-VWOW there were 2 flight engineers as this was the first flight after UCS refit.

I was sat at the bar and got chatting to a crew member and the flight engineer about the plans for the gatwick fleet. He said that they were ahead of schedule at refitting the heathrow fleet and were looking to do the gatwick fleet ASAP. He also stated that 2 LHR 747s would be moving to LGW soon in order to replace the LGW 747s for refit and maintenance. He also stated that he had heard that the 2 747s may be permanantly relocated at LGW next year to cover route expansion. He stated they would be G-VHOT & G-VTOP (I think). He was not sure of the exact config on the LGW fleet but confirmed that they had to put V:port on them at the same time in order to be compatible with the UCS.

The crew member also said how the LHR 747 substitution causes quite a few problems at LGW due to the greater no of Upper Class seats, and bar in the B zone etc. They have to upgrade quite a few premium economy passengers to Upper class seats in the B zone, but with economy service and access to the bar, with the A zone full rev UC passengers also having access to the bar in the B zone. He said it causes some confusion as to who is UC and premium economy!

Looks like theres going to be a lot of lucky premium economy passengers upgraded to UCS out of Gatwick in the next few months when the LHR 747s arrive as substitutes!

I also heard that next year 3 LHR aircraft will be reconfigured to LGW layout of 14J54W379Y to cover expansion and MAN will get a LHR aircraft maybe FAB!!!

if there's three being moved to LGW, sounds like they'll be AST,XLG and TOP.

definately sounds like there's an imminent order, I think that it's gonna be 773s, that way, VS can play Airbus and boeing off against each other whenever they want to expand in the future.

however a recent post on A.net suggests that at the last minute Airbus have put a better offer forward at the eleventh hour and virgin have snapped it up.

It's back to 50:50 It seems.

It is certainly going to be and interesting if somewhat confusing time with all these movements.

I guess in terms of new aircraft orders we will have to watch this space, until something is confirmed anyway.