AAMDanny From United Kingdom, joined Apr 2008, 315 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (1 year 8 months 1 week 16 hours ago) and read 5146 times:
Quoting planesailing (Reply 1): Are these increases coming from spare capacity following the introduction of the A330 into the fleet?
I think so, by the looks of things is the A333 will operate more of the MCO's like it has been all summer from both MAN and LGW freeing up some of the high-Y config B744's. (J=14/W=58/Y=379 or =380) I know normally the LGW-MCO earlier service (VS0027) has been normally operated by the A333 all summer.
Also in the winter a LHR based B744 (J=44/ W=62/ Y=261) comes down to LGW to operate the leisure routes where the premium demand is higher (notably BGI but sometimes it can be seen doing ANU/UVF)
readytotaxi From United Kingdom, joined Dec 2006, 2596 posts, RR: 3 Reply 4, posted (1 year 8 months 1 week 5 hours ago) and read 4045 times:
The UK is suffering a weak economy, record credit card debt,unemployment at 2+million and Virgin are increasing seats to the Caribbean.
What are we missing here????
you don't get a second chance to make a first impression!
Increase tax revenues on international fares which Caribbean governments were unable to get changed / lowered, some journeys do originate in the region.
anstar From Netherlands, joined Nov 2003, 4845 posts, RR: 6 Reply 6, posted (1 year 8 months 1 week 5 hours ago) and read 3619 times:
Quoting readytotaxi (Reply 4): The UK is suffering a weak economy, record credit card debt,unemployment at 2+million and Virgin are increasing seats to the Caribbean.
What are we missing here????
People want to get away from the UK even more than ever??
LHRFlyer From United Kingdom, joined Apr 2010, 740 posts, RR: 1 Reply 7, posted (1 year 8 months 1 week 4 hours ago) and read 3449 times:
Quoting readytotaxi (Reply 4):
The UK is suffering a weak economy, record credit card debt,unemployment at 2+million and Virgin are increasing seats to the Caribbean.
What are we missing here????
The UK economy may be suffering but UK consumers will still take their annual holidays.
Long haul leisure traffic held up well during the last downturn whilst business traffic went through the floor.
planesailing From United Kingdom, joined Jul 2005, 802 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (1 year 8 months 1 week 3 hours ago) and read 3047 times:
Quoting AAMDanny (Reply 3): I think so, by the looks of things is the A333 will operate more of the MCO's like it has been all summer from both MAN and LGW freeing up some of the high-Y config B744's. (J=14/W=58/Y=379 or =380) I know normally the LGW-MCO earlier service (VS0027) has been normally operated by the A333 all summer.
It has been, though it has been noted how often (1) A333 has been parked out in maintenance at LGW. Surely the aircraft have not been undergoing that much maintenance, or have they had a soft entry into service?
Quoting readytotaxi (Reply 4): The UK is suffering a weak economy, record credit card debt,unemployment at 2+million and Virgin are increasing seats to the Caribbean.
Whilst all this is true, you are only looking at one side of the picture. Because of the capital expense that VS have undertaken in bringing the two A333's into the fleet, there is spare capacity with the 744's. What should VS do with them, leave them sitting? They have two options, operate to where they know, where infrastructure is already in place, or operate them to new destinations. Because the aircrafts operations are heavily linked with tourism, this isnt just a simple case of sending the aircraft to the destination, they will need the hotels, representatives etc also placed. Therefore operating additonal rotations to established destinations makes the most sense, It adds value to the brand as the schedules are more flexible to travellers.
Additionally, winter is a strong period with routes to the Caribbean and now Virgin have a cruise sub brand, they add more value to their cruise offerings by being able to place passengers on VS flights.
Quoting anstar (Reply 6): People want to get away from the UK even more than ever??
Definately. Especially without a summer and the once fabled Indian summer also seems to have disappeared also. Passengers are attracted to the Caribbean, although the cost of the flight is more than going to Europe and additional APD, as an overall package, they offer good value (enhanced by currency exchanges), especially in respect of the quality of the accommodation.
Quoting destinations (Reply 8): Not forgetting throughout next year the LGW fleet will be refurbished.
About time, I presume that they aircraft haven't been touched since their introduction in 2000?
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