Manchester: Virgin Atlantic Route News & Base Updates

[User0001]

Re: Delta/Virgin

TLY,

There is an overall increase of flying for VS in the form of 5 weekly LHR-ATL and daily MAN-ATL.

Delta has quite a large increase, with various LHR routes and MAN-JFK.

There is an overall net increase for MAN, especially in winter, which is very welcome.

 

[User0001]

Re: Delta/Virgin

The timings for the Delta flight have been published, although not bookable yet:

DL234 JFK 2220 MAN 1030
DL235 MAN 1200 JFK 1450

B767-300 Daily from June 2nd 2015.

Virgin are said to be taking over MAN-ATL from March 15th 2015.

 

[thunderchild]

Re: Delta/Virgin

Delta have updated MAN-JFK; start date pushed back to July 2nd and now operating on a 757 instead of the 763 as previously stated.

 

[User0001]

Re: Delta/Virgin

Still better than nothing at all!

 

[michael]

Re: Delta/Virgin

It's always amazed me how the B757 has been the favoured aircraft of American carriers for transatlantic services for so many years , maybe they see Europe as an outpost of America!!

 

[User0001]

The new Virgin flights to Atlanta are finally loaded.

VS109 MAN 1100 ATL 1500
VS110 ATL 1900 MAN 0830

A330-300 from 29th March.

This means Virgin now have 4 aircraft based, 5 routes and 7 daily flights. This is the largest presence they have ever had at MAN.

 

[User0001]

It seems the VS/DL tie up has done wonders for Manchester.

As well as VS taking the ATL route, as well as DL adding JFK, VS have announced yet more expansion.

Orlando now goes 13 weekly B747 in July and August. New flights on Thursdays and Sundays. This means only Friday
sees one daily to MCO.

La Vegas goes 3 weekly July-October, with a new Tuesday flight added. Not only that, but, it uses the rarely seen in the regions A340-600!

This now means Tuesdays sees 4 Virgin widebodies on the ground, with 2xB747 1xA330 and 1xA340-600. Its nice to have some variety in there too.

 

[Aviador]

It's nice to see Manchester taking up it's rightful position as the long haul airport of the North. Lets hope the airport can build on it's success.

 

[User0001]

Delta have brought forward the launch of MAN-JFK from June 2nd to May 22nd.

 

[User0001]

Virgin to use the A340-600 to Las Vegas on Tue and Thu now instead of just Tue. This means MAN sees a based A340-600 Mon-Fri next July/Aug.

 

[Comet]

Seems to be operating all flights from 23/7

 

[User001]

In a recent Q&A session, Richard Branson has stated that Manchester will see more expansion as more aircraft arrive.

Rumours have suggested that an A340-600 will be based full time from March until October next year.

 

[User001]

There have been 5 Virgin aircraft at MAN today.

LHR based B744 G-VBIG positioned in as VS808 to operate the VS75 to MCO.

MAN based B744 G-VROM then positioned up to GLA as VS71P

A340-600 G-VWKD remains parked all day as it's not required between MAN flights.

B744 G-VGAL ran the VS73 to MCO

A333 G-VSXY ran the VS109 to ATL.

 

[jfy1999]

If I recall correctly, you've had all three liveries visit if G-VWKD is in the oldest livery, G-VGAL in the next oldest and the others in new colours?

 

[Dobbo]

I've been thinking about the VA operation at MAN - and was wondering their scope of operations is now (I think they do Atlanta - and Orlando?) and whether they might be an operator to expand at MAN over the next few years.

Is this something that is likely? I've not been able to uncover much information.

 

[User001]

The VA/DL partnership at MAN covers the following routes:

Orlando, up to 13 weekly B744
Las Vegas up to 3 weekly A340-600/B744
Atlanta daily A330-300
Bridgetown up to 2 weekly B744.

Delta covers a daily New York JFK, which is being upgraded to a B767-300 in a high premium cabin configuration.

I'm hearing there will be 2 new routes next summer, with Delta operating a daily B757-200 to Detroit from May 23rd and Virgin operating a yet un-named new destination at 3-4 weekly.

This expansion should be announced in due course.

 

[Dobbo]

Any shout on the unnamed route?

Logic suggests that it would be one of Los Angeles San Francisco or Dallas.

Does up to (x) weekly mean that it is not a regular schedule? (E.g. 7x one week and 6x the next?)

EDIT: changed Las Vegas for LAX

 

[User001]

Las Vegas is already served by Virgin from Manchester.

Dallas is no chance. It's not a major tourist centre nor a delta hub that VS can tap into.

San Fran has got the yield and tourist potential, but, I'd say Cancun is the more likely bet.

VS serves Cancun from LGW. It's a huge market from Manchester and fits the destination ethos from Manchester.

I'd also say Los Angeles is in with a shot, delta trans Pacific hub, huge tourist destination and a way to keep Thomas Cook on its toes.

 

[Dobbo]

Apologies - had a typo which is now corrected (from Vegas to LA)

 

[Dobbo]

Las Vegas is already served by Virgin from Manchester.

Dallas is no chance. It's not a major tourist centre nor a delta hub that VS can tap into.

San Fran has got the yield and tourist potential, but, I'd say Cancun is the more likely bet.

VS serves Cancun from LGW. It's a huge market from Manchester and fits the destination ethos from Manchester.

I'd also say Los Angeles is in with a shot, delta trans Pacific hub, huge tourist destination and a way to keep Thomas Cook on its toes.

Thanks - picking up on this further how are they (specifically Virgin) going at MAN? Is there much opportunity for them to grow, either via new routes or increased frequency on existing routes?

They mainly serve tourist destinations from MAN (moreso if your Cancun prediction comes to pass) and with that in mind I was wondering about destinations like Cape Town?