Athens Route

Hey


Does anyone happen to know if the Athens route was served from LHR or LGW or Both? Also does anyone remember the schedule?


Could I also ask, did all the A320/A321 aircraft listed in the retired aircrafts section operate solely for Virgin Atlantic or did some operate for Virgin Sun? If the later is true, which ones operated for Virgin Atlantic?

Thanks

[Neil]

The Athens route was ex both LHR & LGW, IIRC, 2 from LHR and 1 from LGW, but the route was stopped in 2002.

The Virgin Sun a/c were G-VMED/TAN/KID/KIS and I think MED also operated for VS but I am not 100% certain on that.

Neil

Thanks Neil, thats really helpful.

Could I be cheeky and possibly ask if you know the flight numbers? I think it was VS1000 or something like that but not sure.

Ryan

[Neil]

I know the LGW-ATH flight numbers were VS1002/1003 so it makes sense that the LHR flight numbers were VS1001/1002.

Thanks Neil

VS1000 - LHR
VS1002 - LGW

I do have an old timetable around somewhere which I will dig out for you. One of the flights used to depart London at around about 11pm and then overnight in ATH.

According to a.net G-VMED didn't operate for VS. I believe she was transfered to the VS register at one point in 2003, purely because Virgin Sun was no more and the plane was returned to them from a lease with Goodjet in Sweden. She then went onto Atlas Jet in Turkey.

G-OUZO was the 320 that VS Operated. It also flew in VS colours under the registrations EI-VIR and SX-BSV. Name of aircraft was Spirit Of Melina.

VS then puchased a brand new 321. G-VATH was the registration and she was called Hellenic Beauty. She did fly in the silver livery.


A bit of history for you about the route. The route was originally operated under franchise from Virgin Atlantic by greek airline SEEA (Cityjet also operated a similar arrangement to Dublin). SEEA got into financial difficulty and VS took the route over for themselves in about 1995. I believe that VS may have taken the decision to cut ATH pre 9/11 but cant be 100% sure.

From an old timetable, valid from 29th March to 24th October 1998, that I have

Heathrow Athens VS1000 - Dep 21:15 / Arr 03:00 M,T,W,T,F,S,S
Athens Heathrow VS1001 Dep 18:00 / Arr 20:00 M,_,W,T,F,S,S
Athens Heathrow VS1005 Dep 10:00 / Arr 12:00 - _,T,_,_,_,_,_

Gatwick Athens VS1002 Dep 11:00 / Arr 16:45 - M,_,W,T,F,S,S
Athens Gatwick VS1003 Dep 07:45 / Arr 09:45 - M,_,W,T,F,S,S

Edited to add

I dug out my Scanner & scanned a few pages from the old Virgin Atlantic booklets I have. It was quite fun to read though them again & to compare the services now compared to 11 / 13 years ago.

Heres the links

From the Virgin Atlantic Flying Facts booklet issue 3/98

VS Timetable effective 29th March 24th October 1998 Page 1

VS Timetable effective 29th March 24th October 1998 Page 2

VS Athens Route Information 1998

From the Virgin Atlantic Fares Guide booklet August 96 (issue 23)

VS Schedule & Fares Athens Route Effective August 96

quote:
I dug out my Scanner & scanned a few pages from the old Virgin Atlantic booklets I have. It was quite fun to read though them again & to compare the services now compared to 11 / 13 years ago.

Certainly something worth looking at. A real blast from the past.
Its amazing what ten years can make. The schedules are from one year after my first VS flight. Quite nostalgic seeing the old font and product designs.

Kev.

[Neil]

Thanks for that Kered, really interesting to look back at.

Neil

When Ive a bit more time on my hands, Ill scan the entire booklet & post it up.

Ive also got a product information booklets on Premium Economy & Upper Class.

I remember when I started my flying career, as I call it, I was drooling over the chance to ever get to travel in Upper Class. Looking back at those seats (pre J2000) now in the booklets they were nothing at all. Just recliner seats with loads of leg room.

Anyway, as I say, Ill scan all the stuff, over the next few days.

quote:Originally posted by Neil
Thanks for that Kered, really interesting to look back at.

Neil


I second that, great look into some recent history.

Fares weren't cheap compared to today's LCC climate were they?

I remember looking at that exact ATH 'whats onboard' page years ago and in fact when I saw this topic had the image of the business class seat with the FA in my head!

quote:Originally posted by slinky09

Fares weren't cheap compared to today's LCC climate were they?


No they weren't but its worth remembering that at the time VS were in direct competition with EZY on the route. I seem to recall that whilst EZY offered a lot cheaper prices, the 'superior service' would have been a winner. Am I right in thinking it was also a bit of a mile/tp earner?

Thanks very much, thats really helpful! You guys really are full of info!!

I wish VS and BD would merge then we can start to get these sort of routes back!

Ryan

As promised, Ive opened A Thread wherein Ive posted up links to scanned images from various VS publications I have since 96 /98 timeframe.

Ill be adding to it over the coming few days.

Enjoy [8D]