CX747 From United States of America, joined May 1999, 4385 posts, RR: 5 Posted (12 years 5 months 2 days 1 hour ago) and read 1154 times:
It seems to me that Virgin Atlantic is making a mistake in retiring their 4 P&W powered 747-200s when the 7 747-400s begin arriving. Currently the fleet is under an immense amount of pressure and is overstretched. Why not keep the P&W 747-200s G-VGIN, G-VIRG, G-VJFK and G-VLAX around for 2-3 more years? Wait until all of the 747-400s on order are delivered to the fleet and the first few A340-600s begin arriving at LHR.
On a personal note, I saw G-VJFK "Boston Belle" on the 21st of this month at EWR. She looked splendid.
"History does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or timid." D. Eisenhower
Iainhol From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 1, posted (12 years 5 months 2 days 1 hour ago) and read 1083 times:
It probably costs a lot to to maintain the P&W's. The 744 will be coming in soon as they where the Alitilia ones! Also Virgin is getting a ton of A340's, I am sure they will have more then enough planes without the P&W classics.
I think you are just bitter towards Virgin as the got rid of G-VMIA and now they are getting rid of some more classics!
Iain
CX747 From United States of America, joined May 1999, 4385 posts, RR: 5 Reply 3, posted (12 years 5 months 2 days 1 hour ago) and read 1055 times:
It is true that I was not happy with them when they retired MY plane G-VMIA! The other "P&W Classics" though don't have any real sentimental value to me. I have never flown on any of them etc. In fact, it was only for the first time on Thursday that I saw a P&W Virgin "Classic". (Obviously I have seen them at one time or another before, but I didn't write down the registration.) Constantly though, we hear how the current fleet is stretched to the max. It seems to me that rather than have an increase of just 3 planes (If they were to retire the 747-200s) why not have a 7 plane increase? That will allow for the expansion that Branson is keen on obtaining. Does anyone know if the P&W "Classics" are up for D checks soon?
"History does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or timid." D. Eisenhower
Iainhol From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 4, posted (12 years 5 months 2 days ago) and read 1035 times:
But maybe it is cheaper to get the 400's to replace them! Mayeb if they kept the P&W Classics tey would not have got the 400's! I would much rather see a 400 then a P&W classic.
Iain
CX747 From United States of America, joined May 1999, 4385 posts, RR: 5 Reply 5, posted (12 years 5 months 1 day 18 hours ago) and read 986 times:
I think that we should take a deeper look at their route structure. Currently they fly from LHR and LGW to EWR, JFK, BOS, MIA, MCO, ORD, LAX, SFO, LAS, IAD, JNB, NRT, HKG, CPT, and DEL. They also have 3 Carribean destinations that I do not know the codes for.
Now, many of these airports are served more than once a day. For instance EWR (Newark) has service from LHR and LGW in the form of a 747-400 and 747-200. I believe that JFK is served 3 times daily with a 747-400, and the 747-200, A340-300 switching on and off for the other two flights. HKG requires 2 airplanes to operate the route along with NRT. What I am trying to say is, that Virgin is playing with fire currently. I think they should hold on to the P&W "Classics" to allow some breathing room. Possibly, you could base 2 at LHR and 2 at LGW as back up aircraft. This would also lessen the stress of having to bring aircraft back from maintenance in shortest amount of time possible.
Any thoughts, questions or remarks are welcome towards this idea.
"History does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or timid." D. Eisenhower
ZK-NBT From New Zealand, joined Oct 2000, 5020 posts, RR: 12 Reply 8, posted (12 years 5 months 1 day 16 hours ago) and read 963 times:
Virgin Atlantic has already received all 5 of Air New Zealands 747-200's the last left Auckland in May 2000.
It went somewhere else to be painted in Virgins new colours where exactly I can't remember.
Ceilidh From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 10, posted (12 years 4 months 3 weeks 5 days 5 hours ago) and read 926 times:
Very sensibly, they are standardising on just one engine type - the RB211-524B4 - with aircraft from both Cathay Pacific and Air New Zealand.
I flew on G-VRGN (Maiden Voyager) from MIA-LGW earlier this month in Upper Class, and I have to say that the interior was looking very tired and worn-out. Both the J and Y class seats are the same as when the aircraft was first introduced - albeit with the addition of seatback videos in Y and pop-up screens in J. Sony Watchmans are still provided to J class pax to watch additional movies.
They will be leasing in several (I believe three) B747-300s from Air Atlanta as an interim measure whilst they are overhauling and refurbishing aircraft.
CX747 From United States of America, joined May 1999, 4385 posts, RR: 5 Reply 12, posted (12 years 4 months 3 weeks 5 days ago) and read 887 times:
VC-10: I assume that Ceilidh was talking about G-VGIN. That aircraft is still in use.
Ceildh: Do you know which aircraft are going to be refurbished? I thought that all of the 7 RB-211 powered aircraft have been refitted to VS standards.
"History does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or timid." D. Eisenhower
Ceilidh From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 13, posted (12 years 4 months 3 weeks 4 days 11 hours ago) and read 864 times:
CX747 - you are right, VGIN was the aircraft in question. VRGN is now with Tower Air.
The refurbishment programme is centering on the installation of the new Upper Class sleeper seats, bar units and beauty areas; I don't know what (if anything) is being done in the Y class cabin. I understand that this work is being carried out at FLS in Dublin.
CX747 From United States of America, joined May 1999, 4385 posts, RR: 5 Reply 16, posted (12 years 4 months 3 weeks 3 days 2 hours ago) and read 817 times:
G-VGIN is "Maiden Voyager"
G-VIRG is "Shady Lady"
"History does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or timid." D. Eisenhower
Singapore_Air From United Kingdom, joined Nov 2000, 13711 posts, RR: 21 Reply 17, posted (12 years 4 months 3 weeks 3 days 2 hours ago) and read 816 times:
I think it is a mistake, as VS needs more capacity. But they are old and as one pointed out above me, the P&Ws are costly to maintain or something. But the sexy Singapore Airlines has P&Ws on their 744s, and they fly to LHR 3x daily. :?
Oh well, I suggest VS keep them
More capacity = More profits = More profits for SIA!
CX747 From United States of America, joined May 1999, 4385 posts, RR: 5 Reply 19, posted (12 years 4 months 3 weeks 2 days 4 hours ago) and read 781 times:
I apologize to all.
G-VGIN "Scarlet Lady"
G-VIRG "Maiden Voyager"
"History does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or timid." D. Eisenhower
Ceilidh From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 20, posted (12 years 4 months 3 weeks 2 days 3 hours ago) and read 771 times:
Then it was G-VIRG that I was on ... I am not a 'reggie spotter', but was aware that it was Maiden Voyager - the name painted on the lower fuselage being a bit of a give-away!
Sponsor Message: 
From United States of America, joined May 1999, 4385 posts, 
From , joined Dec 1969, posts, 
From Netherlands, joined Dec 2000, 128 posts, 
From Hong Kong, joined Jan 2001, 8792 posts, 
From New Zealand, joined Oct 2000, 5020 posts, 
From United Kingdom, joined Oct 1999, 3677 posts, 
Printer friendly format 
