European From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Posted (8 years 7 months 2 weeks 9 hours ago) and read 3269 times:
Hello all,
I was wondering How many Airbus A340-600's are still on order?
Are there any Boeing 747's on order?
If no 747's on order why?
When will the last 747-200 be taken out of service?
What happened about the A321's?
Will Virgin get rid of the older A340's?
Gigneil From United States of America, joined Nov 2002, 16215 posts, RR: 88 Reply 1, posted (8 years 7 months 2 weeks 9 hours ago) and read 3219 times:
13 new orders for 340-600s, some of which could be the 380t gross weight.
I believe 1 remaining from their previous order, but could be more.
Boeingfever777 From United States of America, joined Jul 2009, 409 posts, RR: 56 Reply 3, posted (8 years 7 months 2 weeks 9 hours ago) and read 3213 times:
Leezyjet From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2001, 4041 posts, RR: 55 Reply 6, posted (8 years 7 months 2 weeks 9 hours ago) and read 3135 times:
"When will the last 747-200 be taken out of service?"
The 742's are not part of the Virgin fleet, they are wet leased from Air Atlanta.
"I don't know for sure, but as soon as the A380's start flying for Virgin, the B742's will be taken out of service, so i rekon about 1-2 years MAX."
The 742's will be gone by next summer, when the 2 new A346's are delivered in the new year, 2 of the LHR 744's are being transferred to LGW/MAN.
"What happened about the A321's?"
They were put in storage until a buyer was found for them, not sure where they went to though.
"Will Virgin get rid of the older A340's?"
Maybe some of the oldest ones, but they are now planning on keeping some of the A343's and reconfiguring them and putting the suite on them eventually rather then getting rid of them all as was the origional plan when the A346's came online.
"Are there any Boeing 747's on order?"
No. G-VROC was the last one that was on order.
"She Rolls, 45 knots, 90, 135, nose comes up to 20 degrees, she's airborne - She flies, Concorde Flies"
7LBAC111 From United Kingdom, joined Jul 2004, 2566 posts, RR: 43 Reply 9, posted (8 years 7 months 1 week 6 days 16 hours ago) and read 2821 times:
"Will Virgin get rid of the older A340's?"
According to this months Airliner World, the A343's will be transferred to Virgin Nigeria. I guess therefore, that the A321's may go there too if they haven't been sold?
Debate is what you put on de hook when you want to catch de fish.
Aa777jr From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 10, posted (8 years 7 months 1 week 6 days 14 hours ago) and read 2719 times:
Currently, there are no more 744 slotted to be delivered to VA. I can't figure out why not, they operate only widebodies...747 and A340. They have 5 747 stored right now, so I think they'd bring those outta moth balls before they got any new a/c.
Lrgt From United States of America, joined Jul 2004, 710 posts, RR: 0 Reply 12, posted (8 years 7 months 1 week 6 days 9 hours ago) and read 2483 times:
i though that they had more than 24 aircraft! WOW!
They have VERY high utilization; their aircraft are flying far more often than they are on the ground...that is why NEW aircraft are most efficient for them.
Regarding the 747-400's, I am surprised that the deliveries just ended; I would have thought they would have been CANCELED. I was surprised when I just flew them in the summer and it was a 5-month old 747...I hate to tell all of you Boeing fans (I like Boings too), but the A340-600 carries the same # of pax, more cargo, at lower operating costs. The A380's will carry a TON more passengers for just a slightly higher operating cost. I would even expect to see some 747-400's leave in about 5 years and the carrier become 100% airbus since the A340-600 burns less fuel for same # of pax, and we all know how much fuel is for VS!
On a side note, Virgin needs to address their new coach seating. It looks nice and has a huge TV, but the seats are so thick that the 32" pitch feels like 29" at best.
Interesting note regarding the 747-200's, they SOLD them to Air Atlanta and then decided they needed them back so they wet leased them back! ...Then just recently, Air Atlanta re-registered both aircraft back to their original registrations with VS, even though it is an Air Atlanta registration!
Gigneil From United States of America, joined Nov 2002, 16215 posts, RR: 88 Reply 13, posted (8 years 7 months 1 week 6 days 8 hours ago) and read 2455 times:
They have 5 747 stored right now, so I think they'd bring those outta moth balls before they got any new a/c.
Not 747-400s, they don't.
I was surprised when I just flew them in the summer and it was a 5-month old 747...I hate to tell all of you Boeing fans (I like Boings too), but the A340-600 carries the same # of pax, more cargo, at lower operating costs
It doesn't carry anywhere near the same number of passengers.
VS has their 346s configured with 311 seats, many of their 744s carry more than 400.
Aerofan From United States of America, joined Aug 2004, 1515 posts, RR: 2 Reply 14, posted (8 years 7 months 1 week 6 days 2 hours ago) and read 2349 times:
Gigneil
You are right - i think their 744 carry either 437 or 452 pax. I will ask tomorrow when I go to work or perhaps a VS employee can confirm this
Sevenheavy From United Kingdom, joined Mar 2004, 1127 posts, RR: 10 Reply 15, posted (8 years 7 months 1 week 5 days 22 hours ago) and read 2299 times:
Some responses to previous posts.
VS B744's carry 386 in LHR "suite" config and 439 or 451 in LGW config (the latter is the new suite config of 14/58/379). The A346's all carry 306 but they do have more freight capacity. The B744 still has the lowest seat/mile costs of any commercial aircraft.
VS currently operate 29 aircraft. 13 B744. 9 A343. 7 A346.
The current plan is for the four oldest A343's to leave the fleet ( G-VBUS, G-VAEL, G-VFLY, G-VSUN). It is speculated (but not yet confirmed) that these will go to VS nigeria. The remaining 5 are to be fitted with the UCS starting next year and will be used on the "thinner" routes or to add frequency.
The five stored B747 are the ex cathay/NZ 747-200's. They are currently planned for reactivation about the same time VS switch their HKG operation back to Kai Tak .
The A321 was returned to its leasing company and has nothing further to do with VS. If it ended up with VS nigeria it would be pure coincidence.
There are no further B744 on order for the same reason as a lot of airlines: They don't need any more because they have enough to meet their current flying programme and are concentrating on the A346 - an aircraft which is very well suited to a lot of VS routes because of its high cargo capacity. Do not be suprised however if you see VS aquire used B744 some time in the future - the aircraft is still well suited to the higher capacity US routes and VS's growth plans can accelerate quickly when the market is right. Very few european airlines (AF may still have a couple but thats probably about it) have any B744 left on order and instead are taking B777/A34X orders.
ZK-NBT From New Zealand, joined Oct 2000, 5025 posts, RR: 12 Reply 17, posted (8 years 7 months 1 week 5 days 19 hours ago) and read 2223 times:
Has VS got rid of all the B747-200Bs that they purchased from Air NZ?
The 2 Wet leased back from Air Atlanta are ex NZ! The other 3 sadly are parked in the desert along with 3 from Cathay, some may have even been broken up by now. There are pictures on this site of them in the desert atleast.
Rlwynn From Germany, joined Dec 2000, 996 posts, RR: 1 Reply 18, posted (8 years 7 months 1 week 5 days 19 hours ago) and read 2186 times:
"I hate to tell all of you Boeing fans (I like Boings too), but the A340-600 carries the same # of pax, more cargo, at lower operating costs."
I would say that 306 is a nowhere close to 386. If the these numbers are correct then I think someone has been drinking to much Airbus flavored Kool-Aid.
Sevenheavy From United Kingdom, joined Mar 2004, 1127 posts, RR: 10 Reply 19, posted (8 years 7 months 1 week 5 days 19 hours ago) and read 2158 times:
This is the status of the ex Cathay/NZ 747's, currently stored or otherwise.
G-VCAT "wild thing". Retired MHZ late 2001. since operated briefly on haj flights for air atlanta. Returned to MHZ and bought by european late 2003 and ferried through SAT for refurbishment to the UK. Currently sits at bournemouth in all white c/s as G-CCMA.
G-VRUM "calypso queen" As above but after the collapse(?) of european I don't think it made it out of SAT. Someone may have more up to date info on that?.
G-VBEE/G-VSSS "honey pie,island lady". Retired to MHZ late 2001. returned to UK early 2002 to operate LHR-LOS and MAN-MCO as TF-ATN and TF-ATP by air atlanta as sub charters to VS in their original configuration. Both currently assigned to MAN-MCO with planned retirement spring 2005.
G-VZZZ/G-VIBE/G-VPUF."morning glory/dancing queen/high as a kite". All operated until early 2002. G-VZZZ retired feb 2002 and briefly returned to service april 2002 due to aircraft shortage. G-VIBE renamed spirit of new york for last months of flying. One of the last services was a JFK charter in association with the sun newspaper to promote NY after 9/11. Retired to MHZ late apr 2002. G-VPUF operated DEL services until apr2002, also retired to MHZ. All three of these aircraft currently sit at the west side of MHZ in what appears to be an airworthy (or near to) condition in full VS colours. Aside from the occasional engine run these three have not moved since retirement.
This is all from memory so please don't flame me if I have missed the odd detail but I hope this clarifies the situation with regards to VS's stored aircraft.
Delboy From United Kingdom, joined Jun 2001, 713 posts, RR: 0 Reply 21, posted (8 years 7 months 1 week 5 days 16 hours ago) and read 2074 times:
Sevenheavy wrote......
The five stored B747 are the ex cathay/NZ 747-200's. They are currently planned for reactivation about the same time VS switch their HKG operation back to Kai Tak
Last time I saw pictures of Kai Tak, the only thing capable of moving there was a bulldozer as half of the runway had been ripped up.
Sevenheavy From United Kingdom, joined Mar 2004, 1127 posts, RR: 10 Reply 22, posted (8 years 7 months 1 week 5 days 16 hours ago) and read 2054 times:
I meant that there is no chance of the B742s being reactivated .
European From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 24, posted (8 years 7 months 1 week 5 days 12 hours ago) and read 1939 times:
Thanks for all the replys so far!
If anybody is interested G-CCMA is below - it is still at Bournemouth but has got all 4 engines still. Apparently going to do a charter for European soon.
Are all the Aircraft owned or leased - if soom leased and some owned what one are?
Thanks
European
25 Boeingfever777: Rlwynn, Airbus flavored Kool-Aid. LMAO!
26 Richard28: what is "kool-aid" Is this an american thing?!!
27 BA: Richard28, It's an artificially flavored fruit drink. http://www.kraftfoods.com/koolaid And yes, it is an American thing. Regards
28 Richard28: Thanks BA, that explains it! Cheers Rich.
29 European: Come on guy's get back on the subject "Virgin Orders?" ! I will start you off - How much did Virgin spend on their A340-600 orders? Thanks European
30 Ua777222: I know there are many different forms of VS Aviation. There is Virgin Atlantic, Virgin America, Virgin Nigeria, Virgin Blue, Virgin Express, etc. What
31 European: Look at some of the airlines websites - virgin express have it on their website
32 Boeingfever777: Like the link states: Virgin Atlantic: 340-300 (9) current 340-600 (7) current (18) firm (13) option 380-xxx (0) current (6) firm 747-400 (14) current
33 7LBAC111: Euro Look at some of the airlines websites - virgin express have it on their website Heed your own advice then!
34 European: Here is the link to the Virgin Express fleet page, http://www.virginexpress.com/corporate/generalinformation/fleet.html To not go off the Subject - wh
35 7lbac111: Euro - so go and do the same search on virginatlantic.com and you'll see the answers to your questions. In a similar way if you do a search on your qu
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