Manchester: Virgin Atlantic Route News & Base Updates

[Aceshigh]

Well a DL aircraft has been re deployed BUT to Glasgow not Manchester. Apparently news has filtered back to staff at the airport that they are using it up there. Doesn't that mean DTW has just dropped off the radar, it would have been annouced same time would it not !

...or maybe not ?

 

[User001]

GLA-JFK is one of a number of new routes for DL, the MAN-DTW news is coming, they are just announcing things separately.

GLA-JFK is also on a B757. Our JFK route currently uses a B767, and DTW is planned on the B767.

 

[User001]

Just as predicted, Virgin are increasing the utilisation of the A330 that does 3 weekly LAS in the summer peak but then spends 4 days doing nothing.

In 2017, An extra BGI has been added, and a further 3 flights will be added into the system at some point. This means July and August, BGI is 3 weekly.

 

[Dobbo]

Presumably these extra three flights will be bucket and spade routes (assuming the aircraft is LGW configured?)

 

[Dobbo]

There seem to be some changes to the LHR VS service to ATL. Does this mean that the VS aircraft are going to be genuinely "based" at MAN?

 

[Dobbo]

Delta celebrate 25 years of flying from MAN.

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/business/business-news/delta-air-lines-marks-25-11531272

Most popular final destinations (presumably DL only and not including VS) are named as: New York; Vegas; Orlando;LA; and Boston.

Interestingly, all the above will be served direct from MAN by VS in 2017 EXCEPT for Los Angeles. What odds on that being launched now?

 

[User001]

Still odd on that LAX will get launched eventually.

I think that passengers between the US and UK could be one area that benefits from Brexit, stronger dollar means more inward pax. Brits will head to America no matter what, too much trade and VFR linkage as well as tourism.

 

[Dobbo]

Brexit could also lead to stronger ties to the commonwealth, which might strengthen long haul routes (if only it details LHR!)

To protect the economy we'd need to obtain free access to the market (which will probably require us to agree to free movement) which all in all would not be too bad.

So LAX remains on the cards from VS? Or maybe DL?

 

[User001]

VS will do LAX. The only routes Delta would do are JFK, DTW or an outside chance of returning to ATL to free up an A330 of VS to run said route to LAX.

That's all conjecture of course, as I don't think anyone will be aware of the VS/DL 2018 plan yet.

 

[Dobbo]

That's good. Worried about a freeze in the DL VS partnership. It looked to be building a head of steam.

LAX seems a logical next step. Less seasonal variation in service another!

 

[User001]

By the time the VS/DL is bedded down, I expect new routes to LAX and DTW (still awaiting DTW to be confirmed).

I think ATL will eventually go back to Delta (to free up a VS A330 to run LAX and increase existing frequencies), and run DTW.

LAX/JFK/BOS/MCO/LAS and SFO will be Virgin operated.

This is of course just the USA picture, and I expect BGI to be joined by CUN and a Cuba destination to be added in time.

 

[Dobbo]

That's good.

If the plan is to base at least 3x A330 at MAN year round it would enable a daily JFK service together with 4x weekly SFO, LAX with the downtime spent rotating through BOS and possibly MIA?

This assumes DL take back ATL and operate DTW. An extra A330 unit can operate LAS and increase frequency on a seasonal basis.

The B744 (and their presumed replacements the A350s) can continue to serve the bucket and spade destinations.

What about non Americas? Might VS look at Cape Town if TCX don't get there first?

 

[User001]

Strange anomaly on 25th May next year.

Due to the JFK switch from Delta to Virgin, 25th May sees 2 departures, the Virgin at 1040 and the Delta at 1245. Shame it's not more regular, but, does give us a tantalising snippet of what a 2 daily flight could look like.

The above info is visible on all booking platforms.

 

[Dobbo]

Do we know what they plan to do with the spare A330? The one that sits on the Tarmac between LAS runs?

Perhaps East Coast rotations could be used?

 

[Dobbo]

Strange anomaly on 25th May next year.

Due to the JFK switch from Delta to Virgin, 25th May sees 2 departures, the Virgin at 1040 and the Delta at 1245. Shame it's not more regular, but, does give us a tantalising snippet of what a 2 daily flight could look like.

The above info is visible on all booking platforms.

Sure they won't just cancel the DL flight? That is supposed to run to DTW if I'm not mistaken?

 

[User001]

It seems to be running, so it's just a meeting of the final inbound Delta and first outbound Virgin. I'm assuming they are doing it to stop any disruption, otherwise the JFK-MAN on 24th would have to be cancelled.

 

[Land23R]

If BHX are to get a DL flight to ATL on a B763 as rumoured on their thread, when there just happens to be a 763 released from MAN-JFK, how does that affect our chances of getting a DTW service?

 

[Dobbo]

I bet it's not directly linked: the B763 would need to be based at DTW not JFK.

I'd like to see how many aircraft VS will base at MAN over the coming years...

 

[Dobbo]

Not content with the DL partnership, VS are now looking for an asia-Pacific partner.

http://centreforaviation.com/analys...nd-markets-but-imminent-deals-unlikely-288475

Interesting list of names, and may be of interest here given the route network being built up at MAN. Perhaps more codeshares via MAN could be forthcoming?

 

[David_itl]

Well VS and SQ already codeshare over MAN:


07:50 Singapore VS7328 Estimated 07:50 T2
07:50 Singapore SQ328 Estimated 07:50 T2

For whatever reason, the MCO codeshare isn't showing on MAN arrivals but here goes:

Daily 18:30 Orlando (MCO) 07:35 Manchester (MAN) 2
SQ 2576 Non-stop Boeing 747-400 (744) 8:05 Valid until 2016-09-08
Codeshare flight, operated by Virgin Atlantic Airways.(VS 76)
The flight arrives 1 day after departure.