V-Flyer

Hi All

I've just booked to go to Las Vegas in April 2017 (I plan ahead!) I note it's still a 747 on the seat map. I realise that Virgin have stopped 747 flights from Heathrow, but does anyone know how much longer they're planning to fly them from Gatwick? Co-incidentally I've just had a promotional offer from Cathay Pacific, who are selling tickets on their last 747 flights soon.
Part of me needs to know, as I want my last 747 flight ever to be 'special' and celebrated in style, as they were the first 'grown up' airplanes I ever went on in the late 1970's
I'm SURE there's someone out there who can answer this!

Peter

Given it was only 2-3 years ago since VS spent a shed load of money and refurbished the LHW 747s it will be quite some time before they even think of retiring any of them.

At least till 2019

Virgin have ordered 12-off A350-1000 due for delivery starting "early 2019" to replace the 10-off LGW fleet 744s.

Fuzzy14 wrote:Virgin have ordered 12-off A350-1000 due for delivery starting "early 2019" to replace the 10-off LGW fleet 744s.

I didn't think that had been confirmed yet and VS were "considering their options". B777X has also been banded around along with the proven 777-300ER to give similar capacity to the 400's

Darren Wheeler wrote:

Fuzzy14 wrote:Virgin have ordered 12-off A350-1000 due for delivery starting "early 2019" to replace the 10-off LGW fleet 744s.

I didn't think that had been confirmed yet and VS were "considering their options". B777X has also been banded around along with the proven 777-300ER to give similar capacity to the 400's

The FSM on our flight to MIA a couple of weeks ago said that the A350 order was now confirmed, don't know how he knows that but he seemed very certain when I was talking to him about it.

Wait just under 3 weeks or so until the Farnborough Air Show - suspect the order will be announced then. Will be interesting to see which choice they make.

Farnborough's not till July isn't it?

Not that the Daily Mail is necessarily to be trusted, but this article last week suggested an announcement's due on June 8th: http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/mark ... lanes.html

gumshoe wrote:Farnborough's not till July isn't it?

Not that the Daily Mail is necessarily to be trusted, but this article last week suggested an announcement's due on June 8th: http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/mark ... lanes.html

Sorry - my mistake! For once the Daily Mail is reporting accurately - Farnborough is mid-July, so wait 6 weeks or so for the VS announcement.

Darren Wheeler wrote:

Fuzzy14 wrote:Virgin have ordered 12-off A350-1000 due for delivery starting "early 2019" to replace the 10-off LGW fleet 744s.

I didn't think that had been confirmed yet and VS were "considering their options". B777X has also been banded around along with the proven 777-300ER to give similar capacity to the 400's

Not been formally announced but was heavily leaked in January and the A350-1000 looks like the only game in town. I believe 9 will be purchased and 3 will be leased.

Strangely, the deposit for the A380s has not been switched and these still show as an option with a 2018 delivery slot (not that I have any expectation this will go ahead.)