VS finally going GIG?

Im aware this has been much discussed, and I searched, only to find the last mention back in February.
After reading a post on the ('believable') a.net forums, it looks like VS will finally be landing in GIG with 7 weekly fights from october.
However it seems that Virgin Execs have neither confirmed nor denied this, but they have said to be studying it.
The news article this is from is here
Mind you, its in portuguese.

Still looks like its going to happen at last...

Kev.

Welll its certainly somewhere I would like to go and explore.

I guess its a case of "watch this space" now isnt it?

[mitchja]

You can translate the web page here

I tried posting the translated version of the page but the URL wont display properly.

Regards

[HighFlyer]

Not heard anything concrete about it myself, but GIG was certainly on SRB's wishlist and is certainly on my list for 'must visit' destinations. Here's hoping the rumour is true! It would be a fab route for VS to get with not a lot of competition.

Thanks,
Sarah

James this link should work ok

Originally posted by HighFlyer
Here's hoping the rumour is true! It would be a fab route for VS to get with not a lot of competition.

Competition on the route is about to get alot more fierce, with TAM getting the rights to fly to London.

Brasil could be the next 'India' as far as growth of flights goes.
Argentina could also be an interesting option if Aerolineas goes bankrupt.

Anyway, as ever we'll have to wait and see if this gets confirmed... what with Mauritius, Toronto, Chicago and now Rio rumours around here, that would be pretty impressive growth after Dubai and Jamaica!

Great news, can't wait for confirmation.

If you're in my line of work one of the hot sayings describing countries where it's increasingly important to do business (due to growth etc etc) is BRIC - Brazil, Russia, India and China. Brazil is one of those becoming important in the outsourcing world. If this happens then that wraps up three, what about Russia?

what about Russia?

BMI have just got the rights for Moscow, and its hardly 'open skies' over there... they'll be running it as a joint venture with Transaero.

With these new service that Virgin are hopefully going to fly, do you think that they have enough slots at Heathrow or do you think they will relocate services such as Miami and Boston back to Gatwick?

Talking of takeoff slots am I right in saying that British Airways were baby sitting slots for Virgin and if so when do they have to hand them back?

Brazil flights, as mentioned on the other airlines forum, is as a result of the open skies agreement with the Brazilians signed back in Feb/Mar. So unless BD get given the route we can expect to see VS serving it. What will be interesting though is if RG goes belly up, after all i believe they have stopped all services to AMS now and CDG due to financial problems- is this corect?

BA are babysitting some slots for us yes.

In one of our Newsletters VS have said that We have not officially got the rights to fly to GIG.

Whatever that means??? Who Knows.

I do know that the 2nd HKG is going to go 4 times a week from OCT and then daily once we get more A346s

[I do know that the 2nd HKG is going to go 4 times a week from OCT and then daily once we get more A346s

VS to GIG would seem unlikely in either the remaining part of 2005 or early 2006 if HKG mk2 is up and running in October. With the start of the seasonal CPT's VS surely won't have enough metal with cover any further new routes??? The rumour mill is well active with YYZ, ORD and MRU tipped..... Will be interesting to finally see what does happen!!!!

Anybody know what is happening to the remaining non suite 343 yet???

[Bazz]

Originally posted by virgin is the best
...In one of our Newsletters VS have said that We have not officially got the rights to fly to GIG.

Whatever that means??? Who Knows...

Probably means all the various consent forms have not yet been signed up by all the parties to them - red tape, etc..

Originally posted by Bazz

Originally posted by virgin is the best
...In one of our Newsletters VS have said that We have not officially got the rights to fly to GIG.

Whatever that means??? Who Knows...

Probably means all the various consent forms have not yet been signed up by all the parties to them - red tape, etc..

Or they are still deciding if VS or BD will win the right to run the route- after all TAM have won the right for the Brazilians.