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Channex757 wrote:I think it's entirely possible that VS could operate LAS from both LHR and LGW. Two distinct products, for two different sets of customers.
If they can make slots available for the 789 service then why not? And as to engines, 2019 should see all affected engines hopefully upgraded. Their newer 789 deliveries will also have the Trent 1000-TEN build standard.
Arion640 wrote:I was just about to say the same thing. BA manage to run both but have feed at LHR.
pasu129 wrote:If BA can do it, so can VS
vhtje wrote:If this rumour is true, from where would VS get the slot pair? Are VS/DL sitting on unused slots?
Andy33 wrote:They can't sit on unused slots at LHR - it is a use it or lose it system - unless a slot is actually used on at least 80% of all possible dates it can be confiscated by the slot coordinators without compensation and reallocated to another airline.
That said, slots that aren't required at the moment can be leased out to other airlines, as long as somebody operates flights at the time specified. These can of course be reclaimed for use by the actual slot owner usually at a season's notice. So there may be VS/DL slots being leased out right now. A second possibility is that while DL owns 49% of VS, AF/KL own 30% and they have lots of slots at LHR, both ones they fly themselves and ones leased to other airlines.
BA have the option of a form of slot sitting by operating additional domestic or shorthaul flights, and also given the sheer number of flights, they might allocate five slots to a route that justifies 4 flights, and only operate each timing on 80% of possible dates, so providing 4 flights a day but legally using five slots. AF/KL and, especially, LH group also have enough slots to use this tactic if they want to. VS do not.
vhtje wrote:Andy33 wrote:They can't sit on unused slots at LHR - it is a use it or lose it system - unless a slot is actually used on at least 80% of all possible dates it can be confiscated by the slot coordinators without compensation and reallocated to another airline.
That said, slots that aren't required at the moment can be leased out to other airlines, as long as somebody operates flights at the time specified. These can of course be reclaimed for use by the actual slot owner usually at a season's notice. So there may be VS/DL slots being leased out right now. A second possibility is that while DL owns 49% of VS, AF/KL own 30% and they have lots of slots at LHR, both ones they fly themselves and ones leased to other airlines.
BA have the option of a form of slot sitting by operating additional domestic or shorthaul flights, and also given the sheer number of flights, they might allocate five slots to a route that justifies 4 flights, and only operate each timing on 80% of possible dates, so providing 4 flights a day but legally using five slots. AF/KL and, especially, LH group also have enough slots to use this tactic if they want to. VS do not.
I am aware of all of the above, but thank you for your explanation. I should not have written “unused”, it was a poor choice of word. I should have written “under-utilised”.
If VS/DL aren’t slot sitting or do not have a slot pair leased out to another carrier, from where will the slot pair come?
rutankrd wrote:There are other sources of Skyteam alliance slots particularly KLM Cityhopper and some VS/DL trading and the previously mentioned up thread reductions in LAX flying just possibly.
skipness1E wrote:What's the VS/DL slot portfolio. In terms of daily departures, for VS it's growing again :
2015S 23
2015W 22
2016S 23
2016W 22
2017S 22
2017W 20
2018S 23
DL
2014W 10
2015S 12
2015W 10
2016S 11
2016W 11
2017S 12
2017W 12
2018S 9
So I guess DL were using some VS slots which have gone back?
TC957 wrote:The slot at LHR will come from VS reducing LAX from 3 to 2 a day according to that V-flyer thread. Mention of LHR-BOS getting extra frequencies in S19 too.
FCAA321 wrote:VS now announced daily LHR LAS on 789 in addition to LGW. As well as a second additional daily LHR BOS.
FCAA321 wrote:VS now announced daily LHR LAS on 789 in addition to LGW. As well as a second additional daily LHR BOS.
LHRFlyer wrote:With CUN being dropped, I do wonder whether the Virgin Holidays Florida/Carribean operation may be sold by Delta.
TC957 wrote:Heard a rumour that VS will switch the Vegas route to LHR and operate it with a B789 from summer '19.
Any VS insiders confirm ?
Whilst LAS does pretty well in premium & upper, the overall loss of available seats will surely hurt.
vhtje wrote:If this rumour is true, from where would VS get the slot pair? Are VS/DL sitting on unused slots?
ZuluTime wrote:VS has spare LHR slots on lease to other carriers. They're not suited for a second BOS but would work for LAS. Surprised that the 747 capacity on LAS can drop comfortably to a 787, but it is possibly a response to Norwegian at LGW and BA at LHR - getting squeezed on both sides.
Edit - just seen the BOS schedules. Yes, the leased-out slots are suitable as they are planning a daylight BOS-LHR operation and a late evening westbound LHR-BOS. As noted above, LAS looks like a straight swap for the third LHR/LAX introduced this year, which itself replaced ORD.
FCAA321 wrote:VS now announced daily LHR LAS on 789 in addition to LGW. As well as a second additional daily LHR BOS.
LAX772LR wrote:Arion640 wrote:I was just about to say the same thing. BA manage to run both but have feed at LHR.pasu129 wrote:If BA can do it, so can VS
The concept is a bit of an anomaly, with the extent of the demand tough to gauge... LAS is one of only two gateways (JFK) on the N.American mainland with same-airline service to both LHR and LGW.
Even ultra-powerful hubs like ATL/DFW/ORD/LAX/SFO haven't been able to justify, require and/or sustain both for any one operator.
AA100 wrote:I am surprised they are dropping 3rd daily LAX flight. They don’t have much premium capacity as it is and the 3rd flight helped give them enough J seats - yields must not have been good - and probably too much Y capacity.