Virgin Atlantic

[Land23R]

I'm not sure of the days the SFO & BOS flights operate, but it could well be that the period from 17 May could be covered by just 3 a/c. assuming JFK only runs daily. And with more seats than the daily A333 this year, that seems most likely.

 

[Dobbo]

I'm not sure of the days the SFO & BOS flights operate, but it could well be that the period from 17 May could be covered by just 3 a/c. assuming JFK only runs daily. And with more seats than the daily A333 this year, that seems most likely.

To me it suggests that by May they are aiming to have refitted the aircraft, including PE. This is faster than I anticipated and assuming all goes to plan (things rarely do) it should see the key summer season with the same product as advertised.

One thing I have forgotten about. If VS intend to operate 6 aircraft at MAN all year, it must make a clubhouse much more likely in the new terminal building...

 

[billboy80]

So far when you do a dummy booking there is still a B747-400 showing between Atlanta/New York JFK for Summer 2017, as well as the B747’s on the two MCO runs. The A330-300 is also still listed for certain flights. However only on the MCO and New York flights operated by the B747 can PE be booked. On the Atlanta runs, still listed as either A330-300 or B747-400, PE can’t be selected, so it looks like Virgin intend to switch these to A330-200 (minus PE) in due course.

I was under the impression from a number of forum discussions that Manchester flights to Atlanta, Boston, San Franscico and New York would become A330-200 from May for the forseable future (12 months minimum) minus PE (at least for the intial services this summer).

The Virgin press release confused the issue somewhat as it suggests that these flights will only suffer a loss of PE (A330-200 switch) until the end of May.

Clearly the dummy bookings on the system imply that PE will be cut on flights throughout 2017, with the exception of MCO and some of the JFK runs, where one of the 2 “based” B747’s is deployed.

Does this imply that the all of the A330-200’s will be initially deployed from Manchester for a month, with only 1 staying permanently based for Summer 2017? It seems strange that Virgin would continue to sell

So far G-VWND and G-VMIK two ex LTU/AB aircraft (15/16 years old) have been added to the UK register, with two more additions anticipated in due course.

 

[Dobbo]

Hi @billboy80 my reading of the situation is that the A332s start to arrive painted, but un-refitted internally. During the less busy March-early May period they rotate through wherever is re-fitting them with VS products including PE so a full fleet of 4 aircraft is in situ by June.

I don't know what the plan is with using B744 on ATL and JFK. Perhaps they will still use them, perhaps it will be all change (more rotations to JFK perhaps to make the seat numbers up?).

I'm more interested in the W18 flying programme. That is likely to be a big boost from this winter...

 

[Comet]

Looks like virgin are cutting flights.

Have not checked fully.
ATL looks to be 6pw
MCO has no flights on one day by the looks of it. Other days varies. SFO and BOS still seem to be the same.

 

[Dobbo]

Makes you wonder where they are with A332 vis a vis B744. Looks likely to be a capacity drop.

 

[User001]

With everything going on, I’m not surprised MAN has bourne the brunt of the issues.

Heathrow slots are a use them or loose them scenario, so they can’t afford to cut there. Manchester isn’t in the same scenario, so, it can be chopped and changed easier.

Is it right for the consumer, and is it fair on MAN? Probably not. But, when we share the same island as the monolith that is LHR, we have to expect this type of deal.

 

[Comet]

JFK seems to be 4x747 3x330, MCO and LAS all 747 the rest 330

 

[Little G]

ATL no Friday MAN departure during Summer. Winter only shows 3 Flights. Tue, Thur, Sat MAN departure

 

[User001]

Winter is still a work in progress because several GDS systems are all showing different timetables at the moment,
.

 

[Comet]

On reflection I don't think the summer timetable is correct yet as some days are showing 3x747s. Also the non op day for ATL seems to vary depending where you look.

 

[Land23R]

It will be interesting to see how many MCO flights we end up with for S18. I appreciate there seems to be a state of flux at present while schedules are finalised, but one scenario could indicate VS might be able to operate with just 2 B747s and 2 A332s. Highly unlikely I hope. It would mean for example only 6 or 7 weekly MCO rather than 10, 11 or 12 we've seen in recent years.

I can understand their precious LHR program being preserved but it would be extremely disappointing if MAN bore the entire brunt of whatever cuts and downgrades are necessary due to the B787 engine problems. Is LGW safeguarded too?

 

[billboy80]

It seems that Gatwick will have 1 or 2 of the 4 A330-200's from this information.

"We need to let you know about a few more changes to our flying programme because of an industry-wide supply issue with the Rolls Royce engines we use on our Boeing 787 Dreamliners.

While some of these aircraft are temporarily parked, we’ve been working to make sure our customers’ travel plans can continue with certainty and in comfort. To support this, we intend to add four A330-200 aircraft to our fleet – they’ll be Virgin Atlantic aircraft, operated by our own pilots and world class cabin crew, delivering our own service and experience:

VS 29 / 30 15 May 2018 to 31 July 2018 London Gatwick (LGW) to Barbados (BGI)

VS 33 / 34 15 May 2018 to 31 July 2018 London Gatwick (LGW) to Antigua (ANU)

VS 77 / 78 4 June 2018 to 30 July 2018 Manchester (MAN) to Barbados (BGI)

VS 89 / 90 18 May 2018 to 30 July 2018 London Gatwick (LGW) to St. Lucia (UVF)

VS 97 / 98 20 May 2018 to 29 July 2018 London Gatwick (LGW) to St. Lucia (UVF)

VS 109 / 110 DL* 4354 / 4355 01 June 2018 to 30 July 2018 Manchester (MAN) to Atlanta (ATL)

VS121 / 122 DL* 4343 / 4344 02 June 2018 to 28 July 2018 Manchester (MAN) to Boston (BOS)

VS125 / 126 DL* 4345 / 4346 01 June 2018 to 31 July 2018 Manchester (MAN) to San Francisco

 

[Land23R]

So what is going to operate JFK in June & July from MAN?
The above ops. could be covered by just 2 A332s.
If some of the JFK schedules are by AA32 but not all, then maybe we share a 3rd a/c with LGW.

Doesn't it look increasingly likely we'll be down to a 4 or 4.5 a/c base?

 

[Jerry]

So what is going to operate JFK in June & July from MAN?

A330 300 according to their booking engine.

 

[Dobbo]

A330 300 according to their booking engine.

I suppose given the demand and absence of AA this feels logical.

 

[Land23R]

So if it's an A330 on JFK and not a B747 on some flights, how many MCO & LAS weekly flights are there presumably requiring a B747?

 

[Jerry]

I suppose given the demand and absence of AA this feels logical.

Also they would be the only ones offering business class on that route as TCX doesn't, so i'd guess they'd want the maximum amount of business seats they can get on it.

 

[Jerry]

So if it's an A330 on JFK and not a B747 on some flights, how many MCO & LAS weekly flights are there presumably requiring a B747?

Looks like all MCO and LAS flights are on a 747. By my count 9. 7 MCO and 2 LAS on Sunday and Thursday.

 

[Dobbo]

Also they would be the only ones offering business class on that route as TCX doesn't, so i'd guess they'd want the maximum amount of business seats they can get on it.

Very true - good point. Obviously UA offer business class to EWR, but not many. We think an equipment change is in the works but there is no concrete evidence of this.