Manchester: Virgin Atlantic Route News & Base Updates

[ethanegcc]

Have I missed something about LAX? Are Virgin launching flights as well as TCX or is it just a rumour?
If a DTW route launched do you think it would operate with VS or DL metal and on what frequency?
With the BE feed VS/DL could do really well at MAN. Both airlines have been at MAN for an extremely long time and have extremely good brand recognition - many people I have spoken to love to travel with VS. This could be our 'hub' long haul, full service airline possibly?

With the BE feed it adds some positivity in launching to MAN, we constantly talk about CX and SQ offering onward connections but with this growing BE operation there is onward connections from MAN all accross Britain. For a VS route to DTW there is connections options on both sides (BE on MAN, DL on DTW) and the same for ATL, MCO, JFK, BOS etc.

It will be interesting to see which airline comes out on top BOS wise. TCX has a 332 and has already started, VS has a 333 and will start next year.

 

[Jerry]

MAN should realistically be able to support a daily SFO and a LAX on a A330 300. A 747 might be supported during summer time. Especially if they use Flybe to feed those routes through it's operations. I also wonder if they would include Dubai flights eventually. Could in the end VS/DL offer SFO ATL JFK MCO BOS DTW and maybe Seattle which would give them a good geographical spread of the USA each being offered daily.

 

[Dobbo]

We can forget VS using the B744 on any route other than those it currently serves. It is being phased out and replaced by the A350-1000.

The route missing from Jerry's hypothetical list was MIA.

 

[Dobbo]

Some more information on the expected new seasonal service to Detroit.

http://www.routesonline.com/news/29...rive-another-new-transatlantic-link-for-2017/

 

[ethanegcc]

'Detroit’s Metropolitan Airport is set to secure another direct long-haul link to Europe with news that Transatlantic partners Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic are set to launch a joint seasonal service to Manchester from summer 2017. The new flight is expected to commence from May 2017 and will be operated five times weekly using one of Delta’s Boeing 767-300ER'

This pretty much confirms it I assume. It is no longer simply rumour! Routesonline is a very reliablr source of information. It is good that we will still have DL at MAN five times a week. Surely now then we are just waiting for an official announcement which the article says will be in the third quarter of this year.

Perhaps this will 'rub salt in the wound' (I am sure Delta know this phrase well as it was used by Qatar's CEO to describe the reasoning for their new Atlanta route!) of AAs ORD route as Detroit offers similar connections?

Could this route be upgraded to a 764 or 332/333 that are based in DTW if it does well? And - in your opinion - could it go year round as we have no connection to that area of the US in Winter?

 

[Aceshigh]

Great news. Is this another based aircraft ?

 

[Land23R]

Not based as it's a DL a/c. But it would mean we still get to see DL 5 x a week in summer.

 

[Dobbo]

Great news. Is this another based aircraft ?

It's a Delta aircraft so won't be based.

I doubt it's year round for now. I think the VS JFK service will stop in winter and Delta will take over the MAN-JFK route instead of Detroit.

 

[ethanegcc]

Yes, DL are still operating the JFK 763 daily throughout the winter months and a VS 333 is operating throughout the summer.

Presumably this is because the 333 has a larger capacity so is better suited to the summer months.

5 daily seasonal is great to start off with. Who'd have thought MAN would have these destinations by 2017:
New York (JFK) - VS/DL 763, AA 763, TCX
New York (EWR) - UA 752
Philadelphia (PHL) -AA 332
Washington (IAD) - Seasonal UA 752
Boston (BOS) - TCX 332, VS 333
Chicago (ORD) - Seasonal AA 788
Atlanta (ATL) - VS 333
Orlando (MCO) - VS 744, TCX 332
Orlando (SFB) - TOM 788
Miami (MIA) - TCX 332 possibly Virgin
Houston (IAH) - SQ 77W
Los Angeles (LAX) - TCX 332 possibly Virgin
San Francisco (SFO) - VS 333
Detroit (DTW) - DL seasonal 763 - close to confirmation
Las Vegas (LAS) - VS 333
With the possible additions of...
San Deigo (SAN) - TCX
Seattle (SEA) - VS

I guess we can take Detroit off our 'wishlists' and closer to 'confirmed' amidst this article supplying us with a lot more information on the route

 

[Land23R]

And before we get too carried away, dare I introduce a word of caution? The article does also say:

"The airlines were expected to make an announcement and open reservations for the Detroit - Manchester this month although it is understood that the final go-ahead has been delayed until the impact of the Brexit referendum result and the UK's departure from the European Union will have on demand is better understood"

 

[ethanegcc]

And before we get too carried away, dare I introduce a word of caution? The article does also say:

"The airlines were expected to make an announcement and open reservations for the Detroit - Manchester this month although it is understood that the final go-ahead has been delayed until the impact of the Brexit referendum result and the UK's departure from the European Union will have on demand is better understood"

I am sure the demand will remain high for UK-US travel and inbound tourism is apparently very high at the moment due to the pound-dollar exchange rates. I do understand it is not yet confirmed but the majority of the article implies that we are pretty much awaiting formal announcement and that Detroit is 'set to secure' the route.

Things could still change causing it not to come off but this article consolidates an already strong rumour.

 

[andyc941]

I've read on another forum there has been a Virgin/Delta press release. Has anyone got a link to it, i've looked and can't find it.

 

[ethanegcc]

I've read on another forum there has been a Virgin/Delta press release. Has anyone got a link to it, i've looked and can't find it.

I haven't - although it would be interesting. What forum have you read it on?

 

[andyc941]

The dried plum forum and it was posted early this afternoon.

 

[ethanegcc]

I have found the post in question and looked on routes online but can't find a press release bt VS/DL. Is anyone a member of this forum so you could ask for the link on there?

I have contacted Delta but no doubt it will be to no avail.

 

[Land23R]

I think it's just the Routes online story posted on here by Dobbo earlier today.

 

[Dobbo]

That's what I think as well.

 

[ethanegcc]

It probably is as I can't find anything else.

 

[andyc941]

It was the poster has said it was the earlier article 👍

 

[ethanegcc]

If anyone hears anything else about this be sure to post it on this forum👍 however it says an announcement is expected in the third quarter so September maybe?