A380 Orlando?

I was at a hotel in northern Florida and was looking at a transportation article in a magazine called "Florida Business" mentioned that the MCO would be preparing for the "giant" A380. WOuld anyone know of a lgw-mco A380 route? there must be some sort of plans for one or MCO wouldn't be making these plans, and it wouldn't be reported to early like this. An A380 (capacity wise) would be a good idea since they now have 3 daily flights to MCO. If anyone could give any solid facts it would be much appreciated!

JAMES^_^

James,

I also read in the LHR Skyport last week that MCO was on the map for accepting the A380 and were making plans. Made me think of VS too. Like you said, with upto 3 flights a day out of LGW it would probably make sense, especially as all 3 flights are within 3 hrs of each other.

Matt

The A380 will only fly from LHR!!

I don't think Gatwick will be big enough for the A380. It can handle B747s, but A380s are much bigger, and there is no plans of LGW to be done that I have heard of, but only LHR for VS it will be. Shame...

I think only a remote stand at LGW can handle an A380 and MAN is also ready as a diversion airport!

[HighFlyer]

http://www.airbus.com/pdf/a380/a380airport_compat.pdf

This link from Airbus states the following:

"Based on our current work, the early A380 airports are:2006/2007:Â¥ LHR, CDG, LGW, SIN, NRT, SYD, JFK, LAX, SFO, MIA, DXB, DOH"


LGW is there, and according to their report is compatible to have the aircraft. I hope that this hasnt been found to be untrue. There are plenty of flights (even non-VS) that would benefit from the A380

I definately second the Orlando route. I know VS treat it as a B&S route, but the planes are always fully loaded and sold out well in advance. Its a real money-spinner.

Hi all,

At the end of the day the B&S routes all come down to one thing, seat mile cost. The cost of per mile for the aircraft divided by the number of seats, and the lower the better. This is why all the charter operators have jumped on the A330, it has the lowest seat mile cost in it's class.

I think that it is only a matter of time before we see the A380 on the MCO routes, as these are the fastest growing B&S routes in the UK, but for now listen to Declan as he knows what is going on!!

Neil Harrison.

PS: Anyone on the VS7 on Saturday?

LGW is among the airports in the world which will need little or no modification to handle the A380. It currently doesn't have gates capable of it, but its runway and taxiways are fine.
I have heard VA do have plans to operate the A380 out of LGW, this would not suprise me if it were true.

[Pete]

Given the high number of J seats in the planned A380 VS config, if they did operate it from LGW on the B&S routes, that would be a lot of unsold J (maybe lots of upgrades instead!). However, given the safety restrictions on the number of seats currently allowed on an A380, they couldn't put many more Y seats in there anyway.

Pix

quote:Originally posted by pixuk
Given the high number of J seats in the planned A380 VS config, if they did operate it from LGW on the B&S routes, that would be a lot of unsold J (maybe lots of upgrades instead!). However, given the safety restrictions on the number of seats currently allowed on an A380, they couldn't put many more Y seats in there anyway.

Pix

The config hasnt been released yet so you cant actually know that the LGW a/c will have a high number of J seats. Seats can be removed from an aircraft and on the LGW services its not unkown for PE pax to get a UC seat with PE service...

A380's will opereate out of LGW... no doubt about it. The capacity is definatly required on the MCO services and the LAS service. Near impossible to get onboard with standby tickets lmao...

[Pete]

One of the VS staffers has already let us know the config;

It's J64/W48/Y425, and the first VS aircraft will be reg G-VXXL, Virgin Lady 2006

Pix

G-VXXL!!!:D:D:D:D

I LOVE it!!!!

quote:Originally posted by pixuk
One of the VS staffers has already let us know the config;

It's J64/W48/Y425, and the first VS aircraft will be reg G-VXXL, Virgin Lady 2006

Pix

It isnt official from VS though. I could make up those numbers if I thought about it. They could be true but knowing the airline industry they will change if they are. They could be completly wrong. No one knows. But we know that the VS A380's will get to taste concrete at LGW for almost cirtanty eventually. Why do you think we have the jumbo. They dont go there to look pretty. They are there because its the biggest we got. If we had larger we would operate it out of there.

Also knowing airbus the 380 wont get to VS till about Q2 2007. They are a whole A340-600 behind on delivery. and the thing wont be complete till Q2 2005!!!

So lets re-iterate and i know that LGW can handle the A380 on the remote terminal (soon to have an airbridge connection).

MAN may even get an A380. Look at the load factors up there 90% and above for the next 8 or 9 months...

[Pete]

quote: They could be true but knowing the airline industry they will change if they are.

Certainly agree with you there. Whilst it comes from a good source (nobody mention 'Deep Throat'); I fully expect any sketches on the back of a fag packet in Crawley to change before VS take delivery of their A380.

Also agree that the A380 in VS colours will no doubt grace Gatwick's terminals at some point in the future given the high volume of passengers Virgin are ferrying over to Florida. It would certainly make sense once the CAA/FAA approve more that 550 pax on the beast, if only because VS wouldn't want to give away to many upgrades for a typically low J flight.

Great photos, BTW kaddyuk. You'd be very welcome to share some of those VS shots on VirginFlyer.

Pix

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!!

[Pete]

I'm with you, Declan. The high number of J seats makes much more sense at LHR, and there are many reasons (consistency of fleet, CAA/FAA restrictions, etc) why the layout ought to be the same. However, never say never, and if passenger number restrictions are increased and it makes commercial sense, I wouldn't be surprised to see an A380 looking after high density B&S routes.

At least in the short term, the A380 will be at LHR only.

Pix

quote:Originally posted by declansmith


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!!

I went to the bookies. Got 2 to 1 that the 380's will be at LGW. Put me down for a tenner! [}:)]

quote:Originally posted by pixuk

quote: They could be true but knowing the airline industry they will change if they are.

Certainly agree with you there. Whilst it comes from a good source (nobody mention 'Deep Throat'); I fully expect any sketches on the back of a fag packet in Crawley to change before VS take delivery of their A380.

Also agree that the A380 in VS colours will no doubt grace Gatwick's terminals at some point in the future given the high volume of passengers Virgin are ferrying over to Florida. It would certainly make sense once the CAA/FAA approve more that 550 pax on the beast, if only because VS wouldn't want to give away to many upgrades for a typically low J flight.

Great photos, BTW kaddyuk. You'd be very welcome to share some of those VS shots on VirginFlyer.

Pix

Sorry for a double post but...

Yeah, I will think about sharing them. Depends on how else they would be used.

Also, I have heard VERY different on the layout of the A380. Its too far in the future to tell. Also declan... If you hosties knew anything about aeroplanes you would know that they have NEVER delivered an aircraft on time. The A346 was 3 months delayed and that wasnt a completly new aircraft.

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