Virgin Cargo

Interesting report about Virgin Cargo.

2008-9 saw a drop of 19% in revenue but 2009-10 has shown $255m revenue earned.

Even more spectacular is the 1st quarter of the 2010-11 year.
A 36% year-on-year increase in revenue.

Shows how important cargo is to Virgin's figures - and their need for aircraft that can carry it.

[Darren Wheeler]

and more importantly, an increase in air freight bodes very well for the economic recovery.

I wonder if all those bulk cargo ships are still moored up in Falmouth?

Cargo is hugely important to VS. I think it is also worth remembering the cargo factor when talking about the 330's and potential routes.

[Darren Wheeler]

Good point.

As passengers, it's very easy to forget that it's not just your baggage in that area below you.

Cargo is really lucky as it always gets priority boarding.

[mitchja]

You pay more per cubic meter for cargo than you do for a seat especially if it's dangerous goods.

To give you a rough idea, to send a boxed 1Kg sample air-freight can cost in the region of £450.

Quite a lot of our products (both non-haz and hazardous) now get sent to the US via BOS often on VS.

There's quite a lot of products that can't be loaded onto passenger A/C though.

I've noticed a lot more recently too as everybody want's their products sent to them yesterday and air freight is the quickest way to get it to them.

[Scrooge]

Cargo is hugely important to VS. I think it is also worth remembering the cargo factor when talking about the 330's and potential routes.

For many years cargo kept the Tokyo route going, it's also been one of the big drivers for VS keeping the 744's and 346's with their massive cargo carrying capabilities.

Yes I heard this is the primary reason that the 346 goes to PVG - IIRC the 346 holds TWICE as much cargo as the 744?

Yes I heard this is the primary reason that the 346 goes to PVG - IIRC the 346 holds TWICE as much cargo as the 744?

Oops not quite, found the answer "A346 carries 42xLD3s, 744 32xLD3s"

Yes I heard this is the primary reason that the 346 goes to PVG - IIRC the 346 holds TWICE as much cargo as the 744?

Note quite:

747 400: 5634 cubic feet
A346: 7320 cubic feet

Size being only one part of the equation though .

[Scrooge]

Weight being the other

Weight being the other

So from Wikipedia I see at empty the 744 is 178,756 kg and the 346 is 181,900 kg. On assumes the Trent 500 on the Airbus is more fuel efficient than the 744. Therefore the Airbus must be significantly more efficient? (Outside my comfort zone now).

[Scrooge]

Nope, when it's all thrown in toegether, the only thing that beats a full 744 on a long flight is a 388.