ZK-NBT wrote:

TC957 wrote:

According to Galileo GDS, MAN & EDI - MCO will be operated by A332. No 350's outside of LHR.

What about he new leisure configuration, LGW or are those routes going to operate from LHR for now?

VS dropped LGW

TC957 wrote:

According to Galileo GDS, MAN & EDI - MCO will be operated by A332. No 350's outside of LHR.

No A332s in the fleet page now https://flywith.virginatlantic.com/gb/en/meet-our-fleet.html

David_itl wrote:

TC957 wrote:

According to Galileo GDS, MAN & EDI - MCO will be operated by A332. No 350's outside of LHR.

No A332s in the fleet page now https://flywith.virginatlantic.com/gb/en/meet-our-fleet.html

That's what I thought too - so odd Galileo GDS shows aircraft as A332 then.
Are VS intending on bringing their 4 A332's back then ?
Taking of these, where are they currently ? In DUS ?

jbs2886 wrote:

ZK-NBT wrote:

TC957 wrote:

According to Galileo GDS, MAN & EDI - MCO will be operated by A332. No 350's outside of LHR.

What about he new leisure configuration, LGW or are those routes going to operate from LHR for now?

VS dropped LGW

Thank you, I missed that. It looks like longer term they plan to return.

Any chance of LAS being upgraded to the A350 since they used to the fly the 744 and now only a 789 prior to covid?

TC957 wrote:

David_itl wrote:

TC957 wrote:

According to Galileo GDS, MAN & EDI - MCO will be operated by A332. No 350's outside of LHR.

No A332s in the fleet page now https://flywith.virginatlantic.com/gb/en/meet-our-fleet.html

That's what I thought too - so odd Galileo GDS shows aircraft as A332 then.
Are VS intending on bringing their 4 A332's back then ?
Taking of these, where are they currently ? In DUS ?

The bookings and GDS will almost certainly be updated in time, because as of now, they are incorrect.

They show Virgin as having 4 A332 based and active at Manchester for summer 2022, with Edinburgh using the Manchester based A332 for their flights.

The issue with this is, Virgin doesn’t have 4 A332 anymore. G-VNMK has left the fleet (transferred to a company called BBAM) leaving just 3.

So, given its not possible for Virgin to operate 4 A330-200 (unless they lease one in), I strongly suspect the lines of flying will be changed.

MANEGCC wrote:

TC957 wrote:

David_itl wrote:

No A332s in the fleet page now https://flywith.virginatlantic.com/gb/en/meet-our-fleet.html

That's what I thought too - so odd Galileo GDS shows aircraft as A332 then.
Are VS intending on bringing their 4 A332's back then ?
Taking of these, where are they currently ? In DUS ?

The bookings and GDS will almost certainly be updated in time, because as of now, they are incorrect.

They show Virgin as having 4 A332 based and active at Manchester for summer 2022, with Edinburgh using the Manchester based A332 for their flights.

The issue with this is, Virgin doesn’t have 4 A332 anymore. G-VNMK has left the fleet (transferred to a company called BBAM) leaving just 3.

So, given its not possible for Virgin to operate 4 A330-200 (unless they lease one in), I strongly suspect the lines of flying will be changed.

When are the A330neo's due to enter the fleet?

The initial plan was for the -300's to leave the fleet when the Neo's came online. I guess COVID has happened since, and they could ditch the A332's and keep 4x A333's instead now. It gives the airline some flexibility in the next 2-4 years depending on how things pan out.

jwhite9185 wrote:

MANEGCC wrote:

TC957 wrote:

That's what I thought too - so odd Galileo GDS shows aircraft as A332 then.
Are VS intending on bringing their 4 A332's back then ?
Taking of these, where are they currently ? In DUS ?

The bookings and GDS will almost certainly be updated in time, because as of now, they are incorrect.

They show Virgin as having 4 A332 based and active at Manchester for summer 2022, with Edinburgh using the Manchester based A332 for their flights.

The issue with this is, Virgin doesn’t have 4 A332 anymore. G-VNMK has left the fleet (transferred to a company called BBAM) leaving just 3.

So, given its not possible for Virgin to operate 4 A330-200 (unless they lease one in), I strongly suspect the lines of flying will be changed.

When are the A330neo's due to enter the fleet?

The initial plan was for the -300's to leave the fleet when the Neo's came online. I guess COVID has happened since, and they could ditch the A332's and keep 4x A333's instead now. It gives the airline some flexibility in the next 2-4 years depending on how things pan out.

The A339s are due late 2022 so they have to rely on the A332s and A333s until then, once they come i think they will operate from all bases.

N717TW wrote:

I had my BOS-LHR (VS12) trip on 03SEP cancelled today--and they moved me to Sunday--prompting me call and and reroute via AMS with DL and KL. Anyone see any schedule updates/frequency changes by VS today? It seems really odd for a change 2 weeks out.

rrapynot wrote:

I was confirmed for SFO-LHR on Sep 3 but flight was cancelled 13 days out. I was refused reroute because there was nothing available in my fare class. Told to pay fare difference or accept refund. Compensation refused due to COVID.

Interesting to see two different posters get their flights cancelled on the same departure date from two different cities just 2-weeks before the flight. Given Sept. 3rd was a Friday and the start to a long holiday weekend in the US I can’t imagine the flights were empty. I flew BOS-AMS on Sept 3rd on KL and the flight was packed.

What was going on that VS cancelled multiple routes with such short notice?

clrd4t8koff wrote:

N717TW wrote:

I had my BOS-LHR (VS12) trip on 03SEP cancelled today--and they moved me to Sunday--prompting me call and and reroute via AMS with DL and KL. Anyone see any schedule updates/frequency changes by VS today? It seems really odd for a change 2 weeks out.

rrapynot wrote:

I was confirmed for SFO-LHR on Sep 3 but flight was cancelled 13 days out. I was refused reroute because there was nothing available in my fare class. Told to pay fare difference or accept refund. Compensation refused due to COVID.

Interesting to see two different posters get their flights cancelled on the same departure date from two different cities just 2-weeks before the flight. Given Sept. 3rd was a Friday and the start to a long holiday weekend in the US I can’t imagine the flights were empty. I flew BOS-AMS on Sept 3rd on KL and the flight was packed.

What was going on that VS cancelled multiple routes with such short notice?

I believe SFO restart was delayed to oct and LAS to nov pending US reopening for Europeans

What was going on that VS cancelled multiple routes with such short notice?[/quote]
VS are issuing agent's bulletins every two weeks or so with operational updates on when services will recommence.
Quite simply, they are adjusting - putting back - schedules in line with the continuing US travel ban, and other covid-related issues involving travel.
BA are doing the same - sensible if annoying if you have flights booked that then get cancelled.
Thing is, anyone due to travel for the rest of this year had better have a Plan B handy.

G-VMNK has already left the fleet and it stored minus titles and engines at DUS. G-VMIK has returned DRS-LHR and is parked by the Virgin hangar on 701 tonight. G-VWND and G-VLNM are parked up at MAN, none of the A332s are active currently.

Thanks Skipness....looks like VS can reactivate them fairly quickly then if the need / demand arises.

clrd4t8koff wrote:

N717TW wrote:

I had my BOS-LHR (VS12) trip on 03SEP cancelled today--and they moved me to Sunday--prompting me call and and reroute via AMS with DL and KL. Anyone see any schedule updates/frequency changes by VS today? It seems really odd for a change 2 weeks out.

rrapynot wrote:

I was confirmed for SFO-LHR on Sep 3 but flight was cancelled 13 days out. I was refused reroute because there was nothing available in my fare class. Told to pay fare difference or accept refund. Compensation refused due to COVID.

Interesting to see two different posters get their flights cancelled on the same departure date from two different cities just 2-weeks before the flight. Given Sept. 3rd was a Friday and the start to a long holiday weekend in the US I can’t imagine the flights were empty. I flew BOS-AMS on Sept 3rd on KL and the flight was packed.

What was going on that VS cancelled multiple routes with such short notice?

A short update, I went out and the DL flight to AMS was packed...came back yesterday on VS11 which had 109 passengers, making it barely over 40% full; and based on the bag tags on the belt at BOS, there were a fair number of connections beyond BOS on DL Given that LHR is based on O&D (there aren't any meaningful connections over LHR that aren't better accomplished via CDG or AMS), plus JFK and ATL are better for connections, I'd imagine the culling of the schedule to US cites will continue until next summer as demand comes and goes.

VS to start TPA?

GVIIO wrote:

VS to start TPA?

Virgin Holidays offer packages to the Gulf Coast and would be an ideal base to fly in/out of, as well as an MCO alternative and catering for those that split their time in Florida between the Orlando area and other parts. It would save up to 2hrs on the drive between MCO and the beaches in Clearwater/St Petersburg areas. I will believe it when I see it.

N717TW wrote:

clrd4t8koff wrote:

N717TW wrote:

I had my BOS-LHR (VS12) trip on 03SEP cancelled today--and they moved me to Sunday--prompting me call and and reroute via AMS with DL and KL. Anyone see any schedule updates/frequency changes by VS today? It seems really odd for a change 2 weeks out.

rrapynot wrote:

I was confirmed for SFO-LHR on Sep 3 but flight was cancelled 13 days out. I was refused reroute because there was nothing available in my fare class. Told to pay fare difference or accept refund. Compensation refused due to COVID.

Interesting to see two different posters get their flights cancelled on the same departure date from two different cities just 2-weeks before the flight. Given Sept. 3rd was a Friday and the start to a long holiday weekend in the US I can’t imagine the flights were empty. I flew BOS-AMS on Sept 3rd on KL and the flight was packed.

What was going on that VS cancelled multiple routes with such short notice?

A short update, I went out and the DL flight to AMS was packed...came back yesterday on VS11 which had 109 passengers, making it barely over 40% full; and based on the bag tags on the belt at BOS, there were a fair number of connections beyond BOS on DL Given that LHR is based on O&D (there aren't any meaningful connections over LHR that aren't better accomplished via CDG or AMS), plus JFK and ATL are better for connections, I'd imagine the culling of the schedule to US cites will continue until next summer as demand comes and goes.

I'm guessing the vast majority of passengers on your flights were Americans or US-based?

The game changer for demand will be when Mr Biden reopens the borders to passengers originating from European countries. I can't speak for BA's loadings, but I imagine it's a similar story for them. That said, apart from the Christmas period, the traditional high season periods are over for the year.

Boeing74741R wrote:

N717TW wrote:

clrd4t8koff wrote:

Interesting to see two different posters get their flights cancelled on the same departure date from two different cities just 2-weeks before the flight. Given Sept. 3rd was a Friday and the start to a long holiday weekend in the US I can’t imagine the flights were empty. I flew BOS-AMS on Sept 3rd on KL and the flight was packed.

What was going on that VS cancelled multiple routes with such short notice?

A short update, I went out and the DL flight to AMS was packed...came back yesterday on VS11 which had 109 passengers, making it barely over 40% full; and based on the bag tags on the belt at BOS, there were a fair number of connections beyond BOS on DL Given that LHR is based on O&D (there aren't any meaningful connections over LHR that aren't better accomplished via CDG or AMS), plus JFK and ATL are better for connections, I'd imagine the culling of the schedule to US cites will continue until next summer as demand comes and goes.

I'm guessing the vast majority of passengers on your flights were Americans or US-based?

The game changer for demand will be when Mr Biden reopens the borders to passengers originating from European countries. I can't speak for BA's loadings, but I imagine it's a similar story for them. That said, apart from the Christmas period, the traditional high season periods are over for the year.

Yes. Just about everyone was American or a "green card" holder. There was only one line for non-us passports/non-permanent resident card holders and nobody was there while I walking to the global entry area.

Virgin Atlantic A330-200 G-VMIK has just positioned to Knock (NOC) for scrapping. This leaves 2 A332 in the fleet and I really can’t see them lasting until S22.

Happy I shot this one lining up at LHR today, was surprised to see an A332 on the move!

Latest summary from BBC regarding new travel rules to enter UK from 04Oct onwards:

From Monday 4 October, countries will no longer be divided into green, amber or red lists

The amber and green lists will merge into a "Rest of World" (ROW) list

Anyone in a country on this list who's fully vaccinated will no longer have to take a PCR test three days before travelling to England

They will still need to take a PCR test two days after arrival, but this will be replaced by a cheaper and simpler lateral flow test later in October

There will still be a red list of countries - if you visit one of these, you'll have to to spend 11 nights in a quarantine hotel, at a cost of £2,285 for solo travellers

Before the move to the two-tier system, eight countries are being removed from the red list from 22 September, they are Turkey, Pakistan, The Maldives, Egypt, Sri Lanka, Oman, Bangladesh and Kenya

Comments:

The above should in turn enable VS and BA to restore its original LHE and ISB frequencies as PIA arent coming off the EU black listed carriers anytime soon.

MLE could be a viable winter seasonal service for VS operated 2 weekly

A MLE route is surely a matter of when not if. There will be a lot of demand for luxury holidays there from the UK, now that it's off the no-go red list.

Is there any real prospect of the LHR-EWR route returning? VS are due to take delivery of an A339 with the reg G-VEWR. I thought this could mean the resumption of the route.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E_vfe-fWYAA ... =4096x4096
Fuselage section of A350 msn 547 which will be G-VELJ

With travel restricitons lifted today, any news of service reinstatements to USA?

Per Bloomberg, Virgin Atlantic has slowed plans for an IPO, opting to rebuild as travel curbs ease before making the case to investors in 2022.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles ... -s-restart

crownvic wrote:

With travel restricitons lifted today, any news of service reinstatements to USA?

LAS restarting Nov 5th 4x weekly

DL777200LR wrote:

crownvic wrote:

With travel restricitons lifted today, any news of service reinstatements to USA?

LAS restarting Nov 5th 4x weekly

From both LHR and MAN?

8herveg wrote:

DL777200LR wrote:

crownvic wrote:

With travel restricitons lifted today, any news of service reinstatements to USA?

LAS restarting Nov 5th 4x weekly

From both LHR and MAN?

No the 4x weekly is just LHR. Now starting Nov 7

The new MAN - MBJ service has been pushed back now to " Autumn ' 22 ".

Great to have a brand new A350 but unless they can make money with this it’s just another bill to pay when the coffers are not exactly full.

lagdroid wrote:

https://twitter.com/MZulqarnainBut1/status/1455491791575212032?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1455491791575212032%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fa380.boards.net%2Fthread%2F2911%2Fa350-1000-msn492-vs8%3Fpage%3D3

Could you post the information instead of making everyone click on a link? For everyone else, new A350 delivery.

Yeah let's not give this fellow any more attention, he already thrives on it wayyy too much already.

As for the subject matter, well they can't postpone the contractual obligation forever, they ordered the aeroplane! The B744s have all gone and the A332s are going, so the future is A350 led. Nice to see, is this a beach fleet model or business focussed config like the others?

This one is the first of the 747 replacements which is a big reason to have them as soon as possible

Monday Nov.8..... VS 91 is an A350-1000 to Orlando MCO from LHR. VS 75 is an A330-300 to Orlando MCO from MAN.
Oh well my days of seeing 6 VS 747's simultenously will be etched in my mind forever. Hopefully looking forward to multiple A350-1000 spottings in the future, but they will never replace the Queen of the Skies!

Will we still see the Leisure fleet based at Belfast and maybe now Edinburgh like they used to do with Glasgow?

lagdroid wrote:

Will we still see the Leisure fleet based at Belfast and maybe now Edinburgh like they used to do with Glasgow?

I think eventually, yes, once VS have taken delivery of their remaining 350's in that config. Focus on the first three or four leisure 350's will naturally be LHR & MAN.

Virgin Atlantic is out looking for £400m in capital injection funding to strengthen the balance sheet through the winter.

The move would be after GBP1.2 billion recapitalization in 2020, and an additional 160 million received earlier in 2021.

https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news ... ing-report

Anyone know when G-VEVE is due for delivery?(as soon as they can afford it?)
#sorry

skipness1E wrote:

Anyone know when G-VEVE is due for delivery?(as soon as they can afford it?)
#sorry

She has completed a customer acceptance flight today so maybe late December?

Customer acceptance flights being performed usually means delivery is days not weeks away.

mercure1 wrote:

Virgin Atlantic is out looking for £400m in capital injection funding to strengthen the balance sheet through the winter.

The move would be after GBP1.2 billion recapitalization in 2020, and an additional 160 million received earlier in 2021.

https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news ... ing-report

So still not out of trouble... Have Delta said no more from us then?

TC957 wrote:

The new MAN - MBJ service has been pushed back now to " Autumn ' 22 ".

MAN-LAX reinstatement has also been pushed back to 2023. Additionally, the MAN-BGI route is being suspended from late-April to late-October 2022, which isn't exactly a good look given Aer Lingus have recently launched MAN-BGI and TUI are ever-present on the route, though historically VS typically operated once or twice weekly through the summer months compared to winter.

Not seen or heard much about MAN-ATL returning yet either and nothing since the launch of MAN-BOM and MAN-DEL was aborted for the second time, though I think there's some restrictions over what flights can operate to/from India at the moment (could be wrong).

jomur wrote:

mercure1 wrote:

Virgin Atlantic is out looking for £400m in capital injection funding to strengthen the balance sheet through the winter.

The move would be after GBP1.2 billion recapitalization in 2020, and an additional 160 million received earlier in 2021.

https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news ... ing-report

So still not out of trouble... Have Delta said no more from us then?

I don't think DL pumped cash in during COVID-19 to begin with other than deferrals of payments from revenue sharing.

At least this time the prospects are brighter now the USA is open to UK-originating passengers once again compared to last year and most of their other markets have re-opened for business. That said, with various lockdowns in some shape or form sweeping across Europe, who knows what's round the corner.

Boeing74741R wrote:

TC957 wrote:

The new MAN - MBJ service has been pushed back now to " Autumn ' 22 ".

MAN-LAX reinstatement has also been pushed back to 2023. Additionally, the MAN-BGI route is being suspended from late-April to late-October 2022, which isn't exactly a good look given Aer Lingus have recently launched MAN-BGI and TUI are ever-present on the route, though historically VS typically operated once or twice weekly through the summer months compared to winter.

Not seen or heard much about MAN-ATL returning yet either and nothing since the launch of MAN-BOM and MAN-DEL was aborted for the second time, though I think there's some restrictions over what flights can operate to/from India at the moment (could be wrong).

jomur wrote:

mercure1 wrote:

Virgin Atlantic is out looking for £400m in capital injection funding to strengthen the balance sheet through the winter.

The move would be after GBP1.2 billion recapitalization in 2020, and an additional 160 million received earlier in 2021.

https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news ... ing-report

So still not out of trouble... Have Delta said no more from us then?

I don't think DL pumped cash in during COVID-19 to begin with other than deferrals of payments from revenue sharing.

At least this time the prospects are brighter now the USA is open to UK-originating passengers once again compared to last year and most of their other markets have re-opened for business. That said, with various lockdowns in some shape or form sweeping across Europe, who knows what's round the corner.

Atlanta is bookable returns limited frequencies from beginning December.

Aer Lingus are also terminating BGI during northern summer I believe - Virgin have also previously non opted over the northern summer so not exactly news

jomur wrote:

So still not out of trouble... Have Delta said no more from us then?

Yes, it looks like quite a pickle.

Not sure Delta can afford to let VIrgin Atlantic go insolvent since it needs access to LHR slots. So maybe Delta has to grit its teeth and pony up some money?

Though at a certain point, I'd imagine the Delta board would question further overseas investments, which of late have produced uncertain results.

rutankrd wrote:

Boeing74741R wrote:

I don't think DL pumped cash in during COVID-19 to begin with other than deferrals of payments from revenue sharing.

At least this time the prospects are brighter now the USA is open to UK-originating passengers once again compared to last year and most of their other markets have re-opened for business. That said, with various lockdowns in some shape or form sweeping across Europe, who knows what's round the corner.

Atlanta is bookable returns limited frequencies from beginning December.

Aer Lingus are also terminating BGI during northern summer I believe - Virgin have also previously non opted over the northern summer so not exactly news

Yes, I noticed the limited number of dates during Dec 2021, though so far there's nothing for summer 2022.

You're right about Aer Lingus (they also appear to have abandoned plans for MAN-BOS for 2022, though this isn't the thread). However, in the case of VS they've certainly had MAN-BGI year-round for quite some time now, even if it has been down to once or twice a week, so in the context of the other routes that aren't due to operate in summer 2022 I would say it's newsworthy.

It could all change of course, but I'd be surprised if it did.

Today's WSJ has a lengthy piece on Virgin Atlantic's adaptation during Covid. Many quotes by CEO Shai Weiss.

For Money-Losing Virgin Atlantic, the Pandemic Was a Surprise Opportunity
https://www.wsj.com/articles/virgin-atl ... lead_pos10

I found it an interesting read and recommend it to Airliners fans of all persuasions.

A personal criticism of the journalism is that it appears to rely too heavily on sources inside Virgin Atlantic. So it lacks balance. Perhaps a few quotes from an industry analyst would have added a second perspective. In any case, the conclusion was equivocal, mentioning the postponed 2021 IPO:

"The company spent much of 2021 pitching its turnaround to investors while weighing a potential stock-market listing, according to people familiar with the talks. The feedback was consistent: Virgin’s record wasn’t good enough to bet on without proof that the restructuring has taken hold, those people said."

Hopefully the fruits of their backbreaking labor will soon be evident.

The article is behind a paywall. Regarding the DL investment in VS, it would cost DL a hell of a lot more money to buy the necessary LHR slots for them to operate the flights they want to when things get back to normal.

Delta and Virgin Group to pump in another $530mil into VS.

https://airlineweekly.com/2021/12/delta ... -atlantic/


https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FGf4ziiXsAc ... =4096x4096