AIRBUS A380

Does anyone know when virgin take delivery of the new airbus .Will V-Flyer members get priority for inaugural flight ?

[Decker]

Nope sorry - we're an independent site.

Really doubt we will take delivery. Expecting the orders to be sold. But never say never. The company seems set to downsize to dreamliners rather than commit to the A380, especially with the market taking a downturn.

Virgin Atlantic will take the first delivery in 2013. The delay has been caused by the ongoing production problems at Airbus. VS are in negotiations as to a comprehensive compensation package.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6089198.stm

Regards
Bryan

I'm with virginboy, not sure the A380 best fits VS future plans! Expensive toy to operate & maintain, probably best left to the big boys!!!!!

IIRC the VS delivery slots went to SQ (MSN 10) & EY (although EY delivery slots now with EK). Original reason for the delay was wanting to let other airlines deal with teething problems!!!!!

Thing is, the 787-9 is slated to have a seating capacity of 250 to 290. Is this going to replace a high seating capacity 747 (440 odd seats) on VS's most popular routes?

So there may be naysayers doubting whether the 380 will ever enter the VS fleet, if not, what or how?

As a really nervous flyer anyway...I hope the A380 does arrive because it makes me feel safer on a larger aircraft..having just the two engines on the dreamliner would make me a wreck! i know its irrational , but thats how i feel!

Perhaps the B777-300ER would fit the bill Slinky (EK 2 class config 442 seats)

What about the boeing 747 8 version.shurely they have experiancce with their existing 747's and should be a good alternative to the A380

773 or 748 sounds good options, but how to cancel both 380 and remaining 346 orders? That will mean losing a lot of money to Airbus.

Play 380 order against 346 will be the best option - don't take any more deliveries on 346, and get a good deal (especially due to the delay) on six 380 to replace Gatwick 744 fleet. If VS gets Gatwick from BAA, then expension will likely happen, so even taking six options on 380 will be possible, to enhance Gatwick hub and replace Heathrow 744 fleet later.

Originally posted by Denzil
Perhaps the B777-300ER would fit the bill Slinky (EK 2 class config 442 seats)

Oh yeah, 10 across in the back makes for comfy flying doesn't it! No way.

[mitchja]

There's actually only a 24cm difference between the width of a main-deck 744 cabin (6.1m) and a 777 cabin (5.86m).

Having sat in Y on both A/C with the same 3-4-3 seat config there's no noticable difference. Actually, the 777 gives the perception of more space in the window seats having the curved higher over-head bins.

Regards

With the extended capacity of the A380... would UC run out of Champagne BEFORE takeoff?

Personally i think they should stick to what they know and go for the new 748. The A380 has been beset by problem after problem and there seems to be no end in sight.

Dunno about the 747-8. I guess it's not that 'new' of a design, but VS have not had very good experiences with being one of the launch customers of an aircraft, so given LH is the only airline to have orders for the passenger 747-8 (I believe) that order might not be likely.

Originally posted by wanderingmariner
Personally i think they should stick to what they know and go for the new 748. The A380 has been beset by problem after problem and there seems to be no end in sight.

Not sure what you mean by this, SIA is reported to be very happy with their 380s and the admitted delay in delivery was believed to have ironed out any number of potential issues. What does 'no end in sight' actually mean?

[Scrooge]

The only issue so far has been with the Ek aircraft and that was down to their own tech shorting out half the electrics on the thing.

My understanding was that VS were holding out for a stretched version of the A380, the -900 series (spotter hat off!). Maybe thats what the delays are? - I can't see them downsizing on the B+S routes if they can currently fill the Jumbos.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airbus_A380#Airbus_A380-900

Steve

Well if they did cancel them it would add to VS's catalogue of plane purchasing wobbles: a little bit of this, a little bit of that, then a cancellation, then a delay, then a change of mind - these can end up being costly errors!