New aircraft

There is a rumour on PPRuNe that VS are getting two new aircraft.
One 340 this year and another in '09.

Two aircraft - that's perhaps 18 full crews.
Plenty of room to redeploy IFBTs.

Which new route - or are they going to increase an existing service?

It could be another LAX-LHR (most of those flights are PACKED!!!) to compete with BA's 3 daily flights to London from LAX.

Could be a brand new route though, you never know! Maybe VS will go back to YVR... maybe they'll add a HKG-AKL... the possibilities are endless...

I noticed VS have a 'wish list' of future routes in the FAQ

Virgin Atlantic is always looking at new route opportunities. Our current wish list of new routes includes Melbourne, Bangkok, Toronto, Rio and Seattle!

Regards

Neil

[Darren Wheeler]

Originally posted by zootvd
It could be another LAX-LHR (most of those flights are PACKED!!!) to compete with BA's 3 daily flights to London from LAX.

Could be a brand new route though, you never know! Maybe VS will go back to YVR... maybe they'll add a HKG-AKL... the possibilities are endless...

I think you'll find it was Toronto (YYZ) that VS flew to.

[mitchja]

It was indeed YYZ, although the VS47/48 departed from LGW. I think any Canada flights would really need to go to/from LHR to be able to compete now though.

I really cant see any brand new VS routes for the next 12-18 months though.

Another HKG flight (which nearly came off the other year) might work now.

Regards

Additional 340's are to cover at LGW while 747's go for major checks and mods, including new IFE (VOD) etc

Originally posted by Golfman
Additional 340's are to cover at LGW while 747's go for major checks and mods, including new IFE (VOD) etc

That seemed to be the news about the last 340 acquisition - rumoured to be second hand but announced for LGW to arrive later this year. If this rumour is for new ones ...

If an A340 is indeed coming to allow the LGW 747's to be refitted, does anyone know what config it will have (I assume it will be one that matches as closely as possible the LGW 747 seat numbers in each class). More importantly, I assume it will have the UCS fitted?

Originally posted by Kraken
If an A340 is indeed coming to allow the LGW 747's to be refitted, does anyone know what config it will have (I assume it will be one that matches as closely as possible the LGW 747 seat numbers in each class). More importantly, I assume it will have the UCS fitted?

LGW / MAN 747s already have UCS fitted - other threads have supposed whether VS will increase the numbers of UCS and PE - PE mostly since that seems to be the one in demand on the routes served. Other thoughts have focused on whether VS will equip these planes with V:Port ...

Originally posted by slinky09
LGW / MAN 747s already have UCS fitted - other threads have supposed whether VS will increase the numbers of UCS and PE - PE mostly since that seems to be the one in demand on the routes served. Other thoughts have focused on whether VS will equip these planes with V:Port ...

I know LGW/MAN 747's have UCS fitted. I should have worded my post better... what I meant was if this new aircraft is not to be a permanent addition to the fleet (i.e VS will only keep it to provide cover during the LGW/MAN 747 re-fits) will they go to the expense of putting in a proper UCS cabin? (i.e. don't treat the LGW/MAN customers as second class).

If it is a permanent addition to the fleet, the config will be interesting, as there have been many rumours about VS wanting to increase the number of J & W seats on the LGW/MAN routes.

Having not seen the rumour on PPrune, which can be unreliable to say the least, I would imagine this, if anything, is referring to the arrival of the new 343 that was discussed here last month.

To save you all looking at thread we basically found out the aircraft will be the only 343 which is currently being operated by Etihad, A6-EYC, which has had a very colourful life. A quick search on a.net has showed that it has a similar IFE system to the Odyssey system currently in use on the 343 fleet.

The other semi confirmed news is that due to the delay of the 787, VS will be leasing 777s as a stop gap measure from Boeing. This was discussedhere

Rumours are often commonplace with VS. For the moment all that is confirmed is the arrival of the extra 343 to LGW in order to cover scheduled mx.

See post 255 onwards

Originally posted by Bill S
See post 255 onwards

I believe the OP is refering to A6-EYC which will be arriving first quarter 2009 to cover the 744's that are leaving LGW to go on maintenance. This has been confirmed by VS also.