AA94 From United States of America, joined Aug 2011, 357 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (6 months 3 days 22 hours ago) and read 2351 times:
Quoting PHX787 (Reply 1): What about the current BA short haul slots, if any? This does sound a bit surprising. For VS, what is considered "short-haul" though?
VS is planning to launch intra-UK flights in 2013, and these slots were a major step in finalizing that plan.
Previously, VS announced the start of LHR-MAN service to begin 31MAR13. According to news outlets, they are also planning to launch service to Aberdeen and Edinburgh. A timetable is expected to come forward in the next few days.
All short-haul ops will be flown by leased A319 aircraft.
Choose a challenge over competence / Eleanor Roosevelt
vincewy From Taiwan, joined Oct 2005, 767 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (6 months 3 days 21 hours ago) and read 2352 times:
Are there conditions attached to this deal for VS? Such as maintaining those slots for domestic routes rather than switching to other international routes.
AA94 From United States of America, joined Aug 2011, 357 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (6 months 3 days 21 hours ago) and read 2353 times:
Quoting spiritair97 (Reply 5): I assume these a319s will be in VS colors?
That is the impression I get. I'm not completely sure on that, though.
Quoting vincewy (Reply 6): Are there conditions attached to this deal for VS? Such as maintaining those slots for domestic routes rather than switching to other international routes.
I don't know for sure. I don't believe there are strings attached, but again, I am not sure.
Quoting toltommy (Reply 7): Who will actually operate the short haul flights? VS flying their own metal, or will they contract out the flying?
Virgin Atlantic operates the flights. VS flying leased A319s. Lessor undetermined as of yet.
To all: We will be hearing more details tomorrow I am told. VS has only really sketched out their plans as of yet, but now that they have slots available to them I believe we will be hearing more on this topic come tomorrow. Unfortunately, specific information has been generally spotty.
Choose a challenge over competence / Eleanor Roosevelt
Andy33 From United Kingdom, joined Sep 2009, 25 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (6 months 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 2352 times:
A good question. It will probably have to be T1 for now as T3 and T4 are not equipped to handle Domestic flights (no way of segregating arrivals so they bypass Immigration and Customs). In 2013-14 the first phase of new T2 will open and T1 will close. At this point your guess is as good as mine as there might have been time to modify an existing terminal.
It's not a huge problem to connect between T1 and T3 - walkable landside and transfer buses airside.
EagleBoy From Niue, joined Dec 2009, 1616 posts, RR: 2 Reply 14, posted (6 months 3 days 14 hours ago) and read 2351 times:
Quoting toltommy (Reply 7): Who will actually operate the short haul flights?
No news on that so far....assume 2-3 A319 to start with?
Quoting vincewy (Reply 6): Are there conditions attached to this deal for VS?
I believe they have to serve the designated airports for 2-3 years. I have a memory of reading this when the issue first came up, but can't find the reference since.
LHRFlyer From United Kingdom, joined Apr 2010, 740 posts, RR: 1 Reply 15, posted (6 months 3 days 14 hours ago) and read 2354 times:
Quoting vincewy (Reply 6): Are there conditions attached to this deal for VS? Such as maintaining those slots for domestic routes rather than switching to other international routes.
Yes. They can eventually use the slots for other short-haul European services but they can't just convert them to long-haul.
Dano1977 From British Indian Ocean Territory, joined Jun 2008, 404 posts, RR: 0 Reply 18, posted (6 months 3 days 14 hours ago) and read 2358 times:
::::Looking into the very near future:::::::
Virgin launch domestic flights with a lot of razzmatazz - along with Sir Richard pictured with scantily clad actress/model/celebrity
Initial press conference Virgin Good - BA the spawn of the devil evil evil evil evil - brings competitiveness to UK domestic market blah blah blah, BA evil devil evil etc
Price War
Sir Richard, then in some highbrow paper, complaining that BA is abusing its position and forcing uneconomical prices on domestic market - But despite losing £££ we will stay in the fight and be the true consumer champion - BA Evil
Virgin Quietly drops domestic services
Children should only be allowed on aircraft if 1. Muzzled and heavily sedated 2. Go as freight
GCT64 From United Kingdom, joined Nov 2007, 1104 posts, RR: 1 Reply 19, posted (6 months 3 days 14 hours ago) and read 2353 times:
Quoting Andy33 (Reply 10): In 2013-14 the first phase of new T2 will open and T1 will close. At this point your guess is as good as mine as there might have been time to modify an existing terminal.
Given that we have also seen VS express a strong interest in moving to the new T2 and multiple mentions of VS joining Star (whose LHR base will be in T2), it appears that this will pan out as: VS joins Star, VS moves to the new T2, domestic gates are provided at the new T2 for simple connections on Star airlines to/from MAN, ABZ, EDI.
ual777uk From United Kingdom, joined Nov 2005, 3355 posts, RR: 1 Reply 20, posted (6 months 3 days 14 hours ago) and read 2351 times:
Quoting spiritair97 (Reply 5): I assume these a319s will be in VS colors?
For the reasons stated by Dano1977 there is no way SRB will not make a splash with this, assuming it really does come to fruition and so we are sure to see the aircraft in full VS livery and i think they will look grand.
Choose a challenge over competence / Eleanor Roosevelt
25 Dano1977: It was a tongue in cheek reply. But you didn't disagree with the rest of it, so I will assume it will follow the same Virgin/Sir Richard script for l
26 747438: Read my profile I think I know what I'm on about
27 visualapproach: You can just about see the mood lighting and live Sky TV through one of those windows.
28 shankly: Perfectly described Dano Already Steve Ridgeway has stated "We have fought hard for the right to fly short-haul and take a strong challenge to Britis
29 MACDADDY: Looks like the aircraft will be coming from Avion Express (LY registered carrier). They have A320 and A319 and operate on wet lease basis, so it all m
30 virginblue4: Looking forward to seeing A319/A320's in VS colours! Why do you hope they stop services? Competition is a good thing....
31 skidmarque: When Virgin eventually pull off of these domestic services, what happens to the slots ? Would VS keep them or would they returned to BA / allocated to
32 Dano1977: To be fair, it's the standard virgin play book. Anybody going to open a book on which actress/model/celeb is going to be scantily dressed for the pho
33 sevenheavy: I guess time will tell....... Why on earth would you hope for something like that? Even if you arent a fan of VS, choice is a good thing. It always a
34 flywrite: I wonder if they're considering introducing any domestic flights into Gatwick? Given that BA is cancelling all LGW-MAN flights soon, it'd be a nice st
35 skipness1E: Doubt it, only the first wave would feed long haul, unlike LHR where they have mulitple flights out per day spread across til evening.
36 Dano1977: Don't think LGW domestics Ops is a go for Virgin. Especially on price sensitive bucket and spade flights. Anyway, they got LHR slots.
37 VV701: The actual wording is that the slots applied for must be used on the designated routes for "six (6) consecutive IATA Seasons". So that means from the
38 GCT64: It will be interesting to see what pricing, and what impact on pricing, VS has on LHR-EDI. Today (19 Nov), I believe that BA has operated 12 flights L
39 downtown273: If VS join Star Alliance then it would be good news for pax in Scandinavia, SK mainly fly to LHR and very little more, so it would give access to more
40 Richard28: interesting... thought it was odd that MAN was announced from T1 when that was launched... good for Star connections but not for VS.... T3 would also
41 fcogafa: If the route is indeed operated by a Lithuanian carrier Virgin will have to be careful that their reputation is not dragged down by any associated pro
42 lightsaber: How many slot pairs were awarded? I recall a small number, but I'd like a verification. My thought before I read about the wet lease. Besides, VS will
45 skipness1E: I would imagine cabin crew and branding will be VS with aircraft and flight deck from Lithuania. Given they will have ABZ/EDI/MAN, I imagine they will
46 clydenairways: Maybe they will employ local crews and engineers for this operation.
47 sevenheavy: The flights will be from T1, not T3. The wet lease is purely because VS really couldn't order aircraft until they knew they would get the routes, and
48 LHRFlyer: Once again, Virgin is prohibited from just converting the slots to long-haul after three years. They can only use them for another European short-hau
49 by738: Can't see GLA. I expect the short haul operation to be a token gesture by 2016.
50 aamd11: Ridgeway: "We have fought hard for the right to fly short haul" Someone help me, I'm confused... what exactly was stopping a UK based carrier operatin
51 AA94: I believe it was the fact that there were no (or very little) short haul slots available at LHR. Once BA acquired BMI, those slots freed up because o
52 ChrisM001: Do Virgin get the slots for free from BA, or do they have to pay a pre-agreed amount? Does the EU set this amount?
53 jumpjets: Plus 2 slot pairs that were pre-allocated to Transaero for Moscow services.
54 fcogafa: Found the relevant section of the agreement regarding the grandfathering of the slots: http://ec.europa.eu/competition/merg...6447_20120330_20212_2452
55 capri: How about CMN, BA abandoned this route acquired from BMI and AT load factor is over 80%, and this route needs a competitor
56 Hywel: A Lithuanian carrier, Avion Express will be operating the flights. http://flyavex.com/carrier-oppurtunities
58 anstar: I'd say because it is an EU carrier that specialises in wet leasing and has the available capacity! But thats just my guess!
59 skipness1E: Really? Larger market than Aberdeen by far with an existing Virgin operation? I suspect entry into STAR will see VS resume the old BD LHR-GLA route g
Sponsor Message: 
From United States of America, joined Aug 2011, 357 posts, 
From Japan, joined Mar 2012, 4959 posts, 
From Australia, joined Oct 2006, 2506 posts, 
From Taiwan, joined Oct 2005, 767 posts, 
From Canada, joined Oct 1999, 1082 posts, 
From United Kingdom, joined Sep 2009, 25 posts, 
From Netherlands, joined Nov 2003, 4845 posts, 
From Niue, joined Dec 2009, 1616 posts, 
From British Indian Ocean Territory, joined Jun 2008, 404 posts, 
From UK - England, joined Jan 2007, 820 posts, 
Printer friendly format 
