I was just wondering Why Virgin hasn't Updated their Liverys on the 747's. There is 4 that has the old Livery.
G-VGAL
G-VLIP
G-VROS
G-VROY
Those all have the old Livery. Personally I prefer the New Livery better. I was just wondering if anyone knew. I know its Probably Money. But they have had the new Livery since 2010 it's 7 years old now. Their whole Fleet Should have it. I'm flying on Virgin on March 9th from MCO-MAN and I just hope I'm on one with the new Livery.

Early signs of fleet retirement?

I would second retirement, no point painting something for just two - three years

Can't wait for the A350s replacing these it will be strange not seeing a Virgin Atlantic B747

So the A359 is replacing the 747? That will be interesting to see instead of the Queen...

VSBR90 wrote:

I was just wondering Why Virgin hasn't Updated their Liverys on the 747's. There is 4 that has the old Livery.
G-VGAL
G-VLIP
G-VROS
G-VROY
Those all have the old Livery. Personally I prefer the New Livery better. I was just wondering if anyone knew. I know its Probably Money. But they have had the new Livery since 2010 it's 7 years old now. Their whole Fleet Should have it. I'm flying on Virgin on March 9th from MCO-MAN and I just hope I'm on one with the new Livery.

The most likely explanation is because they probably aren't due a repaint. VS aren't really the sort of airline that stops aircraft for a lick of paint every time a new livery comes out as it costs money, plus the 747 fleet isn't huge these days. Bear in mind there are A340's in the old colours too.

The livery won't make a difference to your flying experience as VS refitted their leisure fleet a few years ago, so interior-wise they are all identical across all 3 cabins: same seats, same config and same IFE. The only exception is G-VBIG which I hear doesn't have a bar in Upper as that used to be located in what is the downstairs PE cabin in 'leisure' config when it was based at LHR, but it wasn't relocated to the front Upper cabin when reconfigured to the 'leisure' config.

Given that the A350's are on their way, I suspect these planes won't see the current version of the livery unless they fall due before they can be taken off lease.

Either way, just enjoy the flight and appreciate the fact you're flying on a 747 in 2017.

aviationjunky wrote:

So the A359 is replacing the 747? That will be interesting to see instead of the Queen...

VS have ordered the A350-1000 to replace the 747s.

only VGAS of the 346 fleet has the new livery. VRED and one other has an interim livery

Boeing74741R wrote:

VSBR90 wrote:

I was just wondering Why Virgin hasn't Updated their Liverys on the 747's. There is 4 that has the old Livery.
G-VGAL
G-VLIP
G-VROS
G-VROY
Those all have the old Livery. Personally I prefer the New Livery better. I was just wondering if anyone knew. I know its Probably Money. But they have had the new Livery since 2010 it's 7 years old now. Their whole Fleet Should have it. I'm flying on Virgin on March 9th from MCO-MAN and I just hope I'm on one with the new Livery.

The most likely explanation is because they probably aren't due a repaint. VS aren't really the sort of airline that stops aircraft for a lick of paint every time a new livery comes out as it costs money, plus the 747 fleet isn't huge these days. Bear in mind there are A340's in the old colours too.

The livery won't make a difference to your flying experience as VS refitted their leisure fleet a few years ago, so interior-wise they are all identical across all 3 cabins: same seats, same config and same IFE. The only exception is G-VBIG which I hear doesn't have a bar in Upper as that used to be located in what is the downstairs PE cabin in 'leisure' config when it was based at LHR, but it wasn't relocated to the front Upper cabin when reconfigured to the 'leisure' config.

Given that the A350's are on their way, I suspect these planes won't see the current version of the livery unless they fall due before they can be taken off lease.

Either way, just enjoy the flight and appreciate the fact you're flying on a 747 in 2017.

aviationjunky wrote:

So the A359 is replacing the 747? That will be interesting to see instead of the Queen...

VS have ordered the A350-1000 to replace the 747s.

O I appreciate it for sure!!! It's my first flight on a 747. So I'm really looking forward to it. Next I just need to get on a 787-9. I just hate seeing the 747 being retired soon. I know they aren't useful like they use to be.

I wish VA had adopted the VS livery, their current one is so boring! But I do get a fully red tail is too close to QF. However Whilst franchises with little relation I would have thought a closer aircraft, seat, branding would have brought much needed scale - especially when VX was free.

There's also technically a difference within the new livery as there's different shades of red on different a/c if I remember correctly the A330's were painted in the wrong shade, the first few at least and have a darker tail than other a/c in the VS fleet