I see in this photo that there are 4 Virgin Atlantic 747s here. To be honest, I haven't even seen 4 VS 747s together at Heathrow. Are these usual routings or charter flights?
SevenHEAVY From United Kingdom, joined Mar 2004, 716 posts, RR: 11 Reply 1, posted (3 years 4 weeks 1 day 17 hours ago) and read 2269 times:
This picture is consistent with VS's usual operation.
They operate 2 x daily flights from LGW (VS027 AND VS015) and 1 x daily from MAN (VS075, except Sun).
The fourth flight has operated from both LGW and MAN in the past (although not at the same time) as either VS049 (LGW) or VS073 (MAN). Next year it will operate via GLA on certain days.
The fourth flight generally operates summer only on TH/FR/SA.
There is usually only a window of about 30 minutes when it possible to capture all 4 B744 on the ground together at MCO.
To my knowledge VS have never operated a charter to MCO.
AkjetBlue From United States, joined Dec 2003, 790 posts, RR: 8 Reply 6, posted (3 years 4 weeks 1 day 9 hours ago) and read 1954 times:
In the summer VS usually increases Daily LGW upto 5 times daily on some days - posted on the GOAA website is an increase of the MAN flights on April 27th 2007 to 9 flights weekly! Didn't see that one coming.
Anyone have details for the VS MCO schedule for next summer? Kinda curious.
My thoughts still go out to all those who worked for VS in the MCO station before they contracted it out, such a shaby move - and on the second largest station behind London.
DLX737200 From United States, joined May 2001, 1595 posts, RR: 35 Reply 9, posted (3 years 4 weeks 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 1800 times:
Quoting MCOflyer (Reply 7): Air Jamaca, AC, West Jet, Icelandair, and Bahamas Air all fly there too. I've seen 3 744 a/c there at one time. It's very intresting.
Icelandair is no longer at MCO. They moved to SFB some time ago.
Why fly? Simple. I'm not happy unless there's some room between me and the ground.
David_itl From United Kingdom, joined Jun 2001, 5457 posts, RR: 18 Reply 10, posted (3 years 4 weeks 1 day 6 hours ago) and read 1658 times:
Quoting AkjetBlue (Reply 6): posted on the GOAA website is an increase of the MAN flights on April 27th 2007 to 9 flights weekly! Didn't see that one coming.
Err...they've been operating around that frequency since July this year! Goes to 8 weekly in mid-Novmeber then back up again.
United_Fan From United States, joined Nov 2000, 5808 posts, RR: 11 Reply 14, posted (3 years 4 weeks 1 day ago) and read 1389 times:
Quoting Jfk777 (Reply 13): Way kool to see 4 of the LGW Virgin Fraternity in one place, then MCO is the second home of the LGW Virgin 5 Alitalia 744's.
LAS is the same way,I always see a few 747-443's when I go to LAS.
Never rat on your friends,and always keep your mouth shut-Goodfellas.
Quoting United_Fan (Reply 14):
LAS is the same way,I always see a few 747-443's when I go to LAS.
How many 744s does VS operate? There fleet isnt that big is it? With 4/5 on the MCO route another couple on LAS? How much 744s are we left with and where do they go?
1stfl94 From United Kingdom, joined May 2006, 833 posts, RR: 1 Reply 16, posted (3 years 4 weeks 1 day ago) and read 1336 times:
Quoting Teneriffe77 (Reply 11): Speaking of Virgin, does anyone know their history in MCO (like start date initial frequency etc)?
Quick timeline of VS at MCO
Late 80s/early 90s- charter flights operated for Virgin Holidays with 747 classics
1992- scheduled service from Gatwick launched
1996- scheduled service from Manchester launched
2001- 747-400 used from Gatwick as older 747 classics retired
2005- 747-400 used on Manchester flight after the last 747 classic retired
2007- Manchester-Glasgow-Orlando flight will operate in the summer
United_Fan From United States, joined Nov 2000, 5808 posts, RR: 11 Reply 17, posted (3 years 4 weeks 23 hours ago) and read 1336 times:
Well , LAS-LGW is daily , plus aren't there carribean destinations only served from LGW in VS ? I almost wonder if VS will only operate 747's to 'leisure' destinations like MCO,MIA and the Carribean?
Never rat on your friends,and always keep your mouth shut-Goodfellas.
Bobnwa From United States, joined Dec 2000, 4725 posts, RR: 12 Reply 18, posted (3 years 4 weeks 23 hours ago) and read 1321 times:
Quoting MCOflyer (Reply 7): Air Jamaca, AC, West Jet, Icelandair, and Bahamas Air all fly there too. I've seen 3 744 a/c there at one time. It's very intresting.
MCOflyer
I think the question was what non US HEAVIES come to MCO.
Kaitak744 From United States, joined Jul 2005, 1987 posts, RR: 3 Reply 21, posted (3 years 4 weeks 20 hours ago) and read 1214 times:
Quoting Captaink (Reply 15): How many 744s does VS operate? There fleet isnt that big is it? With 4/5 on the MCO route another couple on LAS? How much 744s are we left with and where do they go?
Yea, these days you only see A340-600s on all their routes. Where are the A340-300s and 747-400s? (besides MCO and LAS)
VSFLYER747400 From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2005, 114 posts, RR: 0 Reply 22, posted (3 years 4 weeks 15 hours ago) and read 1135 times:
Quoting Kaitak744 (Reply 21): Where are the A340-300s and 747-400s? (besides MCO and LAS)
SFO gets a daily 744
IAD gets a mix of A346 and A343
LAX double daily A346
JFK/EWR a mix of 744, A343 and A346
BOS gets a daily A343
MIA gets a daily 744
The LGW based 744s also go to HAV (2 per week), BGI (daily), ANU (3 per week), MBJ (2 per week), UVF (3 per week),GND and TAB (1 per week).
Being on: (in no order) VS BA AA EK CX MH DL EI BD KL HV NW RC LH AF DA TG QF US FR LX AC SK AZ PG SQ UA PA
David_itl From United Kingdom, joined Jun 2001, 5457 posts, RR: 18 Reply 25, posted (3 years 4 weeks 6 hours ago) and read 847 times:
Quoting 1stfl94 (Reply 16): 1996- scheduled service from Manchester launched
Elaborating on this - A340s to begin with, then we had the leased Martinair 767 for that winter only. Remained a "summer-only" service for a fair while. Think we had 742s by 2000. They diddled the MAN passengers/travel agents by using Air Atlanta 743s instead of their own equipment around 2002 without notifying anyone (caused a few comments!). I believe it was around 2003 when Air Atlanta's used the former VS 742s on the route (might have been this year when they expanded inrto year-round operations).
2005 also saw the start of extra services to MCO (and relating to where 744s go from MAN, they started a winter-only weekly BGI, but appear to have made it year-round and; this year sees the introduction of weekly UVF.)
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