2nd Daily IAD Eff 24/04/07

According to the Company Intranet site VAA will launch a 2nd Daily Service to Washington from the 24th of April, Flights will be operated by A340-300. The VS055 will dep LHR at 1730 Arr IAD at 2055,the return sector VS056 Dep IAD 2310 ARR LHR 1135.

Quote from Intranet:
"Flights are scheduled to operate on an A340-300. London and Washington are two of the most exciting cities in the world and the route already boasts some of our most important contracts. These additional flights give us the chance to really drive revenues in both Business and Leisure markets."[^]

Thanks for the news Gpik - The new sectors are on sale via VA.com already.

Suprising move, thought that VS may have considered other alternatives before this....

[Nottingham Nick]

Thanks for the heads up, Gpik. [y][y]

I like IAD, but would have preferred the ORD, to start up again though. [8D]:)

Nick

Yeah was a bit of a surprise for me too, tho to be honest any new service is good news for the company. I dont think ORd and a summer season YYz will be too far of tho...according to comapny rumours...[:w]

Sort of makes sense where there's the infrastructure in place (and a Club House) + traffic volumes to double up before starting a new route.

Still, I too would like to see ORD among others ...

[mitchja]

Thanks for the update.

Not the first time IAD has had 2 daily flights. Didn't VS run this one summer a few years ago?

Regards

The one the ran in the Summer last yr I think was only 3/4 times a week along with a BOS. It operated late to IAD then overnighted and operated a daylight flight back, this was to hold slots for the CPT start up. I know we were due to start a 2nd IAD a couple of years back but due to something...maybe S.A.R.S or another of this past few yrs trials and tribulations it was canned before it started. Good news anyway![oo]

VS still have the rights to a daily frequency to operate to Brazil - It was issued at the same time as TAM got the rights to LHR. Wonder where they fall into the mix over the next 12 months or so???

OH Id be Samba-ing my way down that aisle in no time if we launched one of those...VAA and South America are the Perfect Combination....they would love us! We`re bringin Sexy back! lol [:I]

Originally posted by tallprawn
VS still have the rights to a daily frequency to operate to Brazil - It was issued at the same time as TAM got the rights to LHR. Wonder where they fall into the mix over the next 12 months or so???

Having rights doesnt mean that they will excercise them. They were given rights to PEK about 2-3 years ago at the same time BA got PVG rights and still havent used them.

BUT I think Rio has to be on the cards- it makes a lot of sense. I would love to see it in the next year.

Surprised in a way by 2nd daily IAD service, when I last flew it about 2 years ago the loads were very poor (40% I would say). Have things improved or is it a very seasonal route? After all its seems to go from a 343 to a 346 all the time.

[mcmbenjamin]

Does the magic ball see the IAD route going onto Brazil?

Originally posted by mcmbenjamin
Does the magic ball see the IAD route going onto Brazil?

oooo I hadnt thought of that one. [oo]

[mcmbenjamin]

oh willd there could be a ton of things...
Interchange with VAmerica for a transcon from IAD
Interchenge with VAmerica on Fridays to Florida and from Florida to Dulles for the weekenders

With the current agreements between the U.K/U.S governments on 5th freedom rights I doubt very much if the IAD route would ever go onto Brazil

I use the IAD route around 6-8 times a year, loads seem pretty high and its always been a 346. However Virgin has just lost the Ministry of Defence contract back to BA, which may have an impact

is it confirmed that they have lost the contract?

Originally posted by mcmbenjamin
oh willd there could be a ton of things...
Interchange with VAmerica for a transcon from IAD
Interchenge with VAmerica on Fridays to Florida and from Florida to Dulles for the weekenders

I can only live in hope of Rio!

Dont think that will be happening anytime soon seeing as VX's 2 A320's have just been leased out to TAM.

Originally posted by Gpik
With the current agreements between the U.K/U.S governments on 5th freedom rights I doubt very much if the IAD route would ever go onto Brazil

No i think McBen was meaning that the slot for the 2nd IAD service would eventually transfer to a LHR-RIO (GRU?) service. So the IAD was babysitting the slot until VS were in a position to start a Rio service. Thats how I took it...

[mcmbenjamin]

naaaa willd. Interchanging is how Braniff operated the Concorde. I was suggesting the same relationship between VS and VAmerica to better utilize the aircraft. Now my suggestions were to and from places with current A340 operations.

That said, an IAD evening flight allows connecting traffic (from LHR and IAD) and competes with BA and UA more. Remember jetBlue saying that they were considering codesharing or feeding an international carrier out of JFK? Well I for one think that if they could feed people up to IAD from Florida and other places the connection and bag transfer to VS would be easier than at JFK. (jetBlue and Virgin share the same terminal and have gates next to each other. Maybe a dirty trick to take back the military contract.

Originally posted by Gpik
is it confirmed that they have lost the contract?

that's my understanding

Do you think that VS are going to try and squeeze Maxjet out of Washington? I for one would rather fly there with Maxjet, as the service relation to price that I want is better than VS.