Englandair From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2000, 2228 posts, RR: 3 Posted (12 years 5 months 1 week 4 days 11 hours ago) and read 986 times:
Hi All,
It would be great if you could answer the following questions or write what you think will happen...
(1) VS are retiring P&W powered B747-200s (4 I think).
What aircraft are these?
(2) Alot of people seem to think that VS will be flying to Tel Aviv, Isreal soon. If they do what a/c do you expect would be used? Could they fill a 747/ make a proffit using one?
(3) They've apparently applied to fly to Muscat (Oman) & St. Petersburg (I guess the one in Russia). I think an A321 would be used to Russia but what about Muscat. BA & Gulf Air (I think) fly between there and London but is there the demand for another carrier flying such large aircraft?
(4) Do you think VS will ever expand into Europe? Currently they only fly to Athens. There've been rumors of Malta soon...know anything?
(5) Will VS ever operate the B767 again (perhaps to St. Petersburg or Tel Aviv)? I realy hope so!
747sp_rulez From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 3, posted (12 years 5 months 1 week 4 days 8 hours ago) and read 906 times:
Hey Englandair...
(1) VS are retiring P&W powered B747-200s (4 I think).What aircraft are these?
I'm clueless when it comes to Engines.
(2) Alot of people seem to think that VS will be flying to Tel Aviv, Isreal soon. If they do what a/c do you expect would be used? Could they fill a 747/ make a proffit using one?
I don't live in England, so I don't know how big the Jewish/Israeli population is there. I don't think a 747 or an A340 would be good to use, as BA and El Al have relatively big aircraft on the route (I think) If they were to start the route, I would think they would have to get new aircraft. Perhaps the 767, maybe the 777, or maybe the A330. Ever thought of the A330-500? I read somewhere that it is (if launched) going to be a replacement for the A310. Might be a good choice for the smaller cities.
(3) They've apparently applied to fly to Muscat (Oman) & St. Petersburg (I guess the one in Russia). I think an A321 would be used to Russia but what about Muscat. BA & Gulf Air (I think) fly between there and London but is there the demand for another carrier flying such large aircraft?
Same as above
(4) Do you think VS will ever expand into Europe? Currently they only fly to Athens. There've been rumors of Malta soon...know anything?
Well, there is Virgin Express, and if they start serving destinations that Virgin Express serves, then Virgin Express might lose business, and maybe they don't want to do that. For instance, my friend was on a flight from Paris-London on Virgin Express, and she hated it. She would much have prefered to fly VS then VS Express. I think they will expand into Europe, but not in a major way. I think they're more of an international carrier, rather than a European carrier.
(5) Will VS ever operate the B767 again (perhaps to St. Petersburg or Tel Aviv)? I realy hope so!
Maybe! The livery would look V cool in a 767!! Personally, however, I think they should scrap every aircraft and aircraft order they've got, and replace it with the 747SP!
Englandair From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2000, 2228 posts, RR: 3 Reply 4, posted (12 years 5 months 1 week 4 days 7 hours ago) and read 889 times:
Cheers 747sp_rulez (although I don't think a 747sp would do too well on the Athens run!)
I had read on hear that because business isn't doing too well for Virgin Express that they were to disscontinue operations as a low-cost carrier and begin services as a normal scheduled airline. If this is true, I hope that they just merge with VS.
I think that there's a fairly large Jewish community in London and on BBCs "Airport" El Al always seem realy busy.
However on one edition of "Airport" there was a Jewish lady who, because she found modern films immoral, requested to be sat in an area of the plane with no entertainment. So many people requested this that El Al had to have a whole section of the plane with no entertainment. My point is, and tell me if I'm completly wrong, given VS's raunchy image, would many Othodox (sp.) Jews want to fly Virgin? So a smaller plane (eg.B767/A330) might be better.
Thanks again,
Jamie.
ps. I saw a Syrian Air 747SP at LHR yesterday & now I'm quite fond of them too!
VirginFlyer From New Zealand, joined Sep 2000, 4502 posts, RR: 50 Reply 5, posted (12 years 5 months 1 week 4 days 7 hours ago) and read 893 times:
Ok, Take everything you read in these forums with a grain of salt (I say that because all 5 of your questions have been sourced directly from other posts in other threads).
As to the question of P&W engined and RR engines 747s, here are two pics to help you differentiate:
As has been said elsewhere, airlines do apply for routes without the intention of operating them immediately. So, while VS may have applied for these routes now, they may have done so with the intention of seeing how the market develops, and having them ready to use when the market is suitable.
The Next routes VS are likely to tackle will be to SIN and SYD or MEL or BRI in Australia.
As for the 767, I think you'll be more likely to find the A330-200. It has commonality with VS's A340-300s and soon to be -600s, whereas the 767 would not have commonality with anything in VS's fleet.
Hope this helps...
"So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole earth." - Bahá'u'lláh
Englandair From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2000, 2228 posts, RR: 3 Reply 6, posted (12 years 5 months 1 week 3 days 19 hours ago) and read 859 times:
Thanks VirginFlyer,
Which airport/city is SIN?
Also there were rumors that VS was going to stop its flights between Manchester & Orlando (I know I read it on here!) because it's becoming unproffitable (which supprised me). Is there any truth behind this? If so a smaller aircraft could be better. Perhaps a B767 or, as you say is more probable, an A330...?!
VirginFlyer From New Zealand, joined Sep 2000, 4502 posts, RR: 50 Reply 7, posted (12 years 5 months 1 week 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 857 times:
SIN is Singapore (That is the code, isn't it???)
They could also come to Australia (and New Zealand, hopefully!!!) through LAX or SFO. I'd sure love to see one of their silver 747s touching down at AKL. Hey, perhaps some of ANZ's old 742s might visit their old home!
"So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole earth." - Bahá'u'lláh
BostonBeau From United States of America, joined Sep 2000, 459 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (12 years 5 months 1 week 3 days 14 hours ago) and read 841 times:
I always have thought that VS operated the flight to Athens on behalf of another company (a tour company that needed someone with an airline license to fly the plane)? Perhaps some of these projected new flights are a similar arrangement.
Na From Germany, joined Dec 1999, 9599 posts, RR: 10 Reply 10, posted (12 years 5 months 1 week 3 days 14 hours ago) and read 836 times:
The four PW-powered Jumbo-Jets left in Virgin Atlantics fleet are:
G-VGIN
G-VIRG
G-VJFK
G-VLAX
To my knowledge not a single one of the "Oldie"-Quartet has been repainted in the new colours. They are between 30 and 26 years old when retired next year. So don´t expect them to fly again.
Most likely they will be retired upon delivery of the 7 new 747-41Rs due next year (Which airline took so many 747s in one year since Pan Am received the 747-debut-fleet back in 1969/70?).
Englandair From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2000, 2228 posts, RR: 3 Reply 11, posted (12 years 5 months 1 week 3 days 14 hours ago) and read 834 times:
BostonBeau- I can't give you a definate answer but on their website VS sell seats on the Athens flights. I doubt that they'd do this if they were operating the flights on behalf of a tour operator.
BostonBeau From United States of America, joined Sep 2000, 459 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (12 years 5 months 1 week 3 days 13 hours ago) and read 824 times:
Oh yes, Englandair....I realize they do. But I thought that was *why* the tour company arranged with a scheduled carrier, rather than a charter company, to operate the flight...to enable them to fill up the flight with "regular" passengers in addition to those with the tour group. Similar to what TWA is doing to various Caribbean destinations from the USA. I could be totally wrong about the Athens flight....it is something I remember reading a long time ago, as to why an international carrier with mostly B747 long haul routes would own one A320 for a single medium stage route.
Englandair From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2000, 2228 posts, RR: 3 Reply 14, posted (12 years 5 months 1 week 3 days 12 hours ago) and read 817 times:
Well I had wondered why VS flew to Athens! Perhaps you're right. (ps. it's an A321)
Can anyone please answer my question- Do you think VS will operate a smaller jet, eg B767 or A330, to Muscat & Tel Aviv if services to the two cities begin?
BostonBeau From United States of America, joined Sep 2000, 459 posts, RR: 0 Reply 17, posted (12 years 5 months 1 week 3 days 12 hours ago) and read 811 times:
Nickofatlanta....I think you're right. I believe they did fly for a while from London City Airport to Dublin, but again I think they were acting on behalf of another company in doing so.
Klik From Canada, joined Oct 2000, 152 posts, RR: 0 Reply 19, posted (12 years 5 months 1 week 3 days 11 hours ago) and read 800 times:
The ATH route was initially operated for a Greek airline (South Eastern Mediterannean Airways - SEMA) which didn't have the equipment to fly internationally in the early 90's. That airline ceased operations in approximately 1995, but VS decided to continue operating the route. They currently operate one daily LHR flight, and, summer only, one daily LGW flight.
BostonBeau From United States of America, joined Sep 2000, 459 posts, RR: 0 Reply 20, posted (12 years 5 months 1 week 3 days 11 hours ago) and read 794 times:
That's IT! Thank you, Klik. Now I won't spend all night trying to find the information
Englandair From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2000, 2228 posts, RR: 3 Reply 21, posted (12 years 5 months 1 week 3 days 10 hours ago) and read 792 times:
Again...
...Is Virgin dropping Manchester flights?
...Do you think a smaller a/c (eg. B767/A330) would be used to Tel Aviv & Muscat or even between MAN & Orlando?
Englandair From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2000, 2228 posts, RR: 3 Reply 23, posted (12 years 5 months 1 week 3 days 9 hours ago) and read 780 times:
SORRY- I'm being a bit naughty now and only writing this to move the topic up the main page and hopefully get it noticed...which shows how much I want to know what YOU think will happen.
Englandair From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2000, 2228 posts, RR: 3 Reply 24, posted (12 years 5 months 1 week 3 days 9 hours ago) and read 772 times:
OK-
What type of aircraft do other European airlines fly to Muscat?
25 747sp_rulez: Hello again EnglandAir... I think they will operate the A330. They're not exactly buying many Boeing aircraft. I mean, sure they're buying new 744's,
27 Englandair: Hi yet again 747sp_rulez!, Just clarifying something, VS have I think 10(?) A340-600s on order & are to be the models' launch customer. Bye, Jamie.
28 CX747: I truly doubt that we will ever see the 767 or A330 in Virgin Atlantic's fleet. The airline is not ETOPS certfied, and in the past has choosen four en
29 Englandair: But there's no way that VS could fly A340s or B747s to Tel Aviv or Oman without loosing money...or is there? If VS have applied to fly to Oman from Lo
30 Englandair: Also, could you please explain what "ETOPS" means/stands for. Cheers, Jamie.
33 CX747: I am not quite sure what VS would do if they were to receive permission to fly that route. I do not know the capacity demands for LHR/LGW-Tel Aviv. Wh
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