B787-9 order update

Apologies if this has been posted already - couldn't find it using the mobile version but I came across this on Twitter a few moments ago:

http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/tridion/ ... 523607.pdf

That document's quite old I think - they haven't used that logo for years and they certainly don't have 6 A343s any more!

As far as we know the first Dreamliner's scheduled to enter revenue service in October on the Boston route.

Without wishing to sound overly pessimistic I struggle to see how the aisles will be wider with 3-3-3 in economy class!

Are VA leasing 787-9 if so who from

Ah yes, what codswallop to say Melbourne, Rio etc.

That would be a good name for one of the 787-9 CODSWALLOP
G-VCOD

That document's quite old I think - they haven't used that logo for years and they certainly don't have 6 A343s any more!

As far as we know the first Dreamliner's scheduled to enter revenue service in October on the Boston route.

Ahh right. I saw it on an aviation news twitter feed a couple of hours before I posted so assumed it was recent.

That would be a good name for one of the 787-9 CODSWALLOP
G-VCOD

Shame they've already used VHOT - INFLAMMABLE would be another obvious choice.

The A333 gave replaced some off those orders as for the future the big question is what will eventually replace the 747's. I suppose a lot will depend on future financial results. The latest set of figures are due soon and it will be interesting to see if there has been a return to profit.

[Darren Wheeler]

The 747's are the next big question.

Looking at GINFO, Lady Penelope is coming up to her 20th birthday and has 91000+ hours on her. Mustang Sally on the other hand is only just over 10 years old with only 43000+ hours. The refits of the Gatwick 747's will have extended their life with VS, but at some point, they will need to be replaced too. In the summer, 5 747's do the Orlando route (plus one to Miami on certain days), that's a lot of capacity.

As it stands there are only really 2 replacements available that will fill the gap. Either the A380 or the 747-800 Intercontinental. At around 530 seats in 3-class config compared to 460 for the 747-8, there isn't a huge amount of capacity between them.

I think VA will replace all it's four engine aircraft with two engine aircraft maybe with the A350 as I don't think finances will run to A380 or 747-800

As it stands there are only really 2 replacements available that will fill the gap. Either the A380 or the 747-800 Intercontinental. At around 530 seats in 3-class config compared to 460 for the 747-8, there isn't a huge amount of capacity between them.

VS's trend of late has been to replace aircraft with something a little smaller ... A346 for A333, A346 for B787 for example. It wouldn't surprise me if VS goes for the A350-1000 instead of the A380s on the order book. I really don't see anyone else ordering the 747-8 in passenger configuration, Boeing has killed that with the 777X in its largest variant which will seat 400. Given that VA operates the 777 it could be a possibility, but those A380 deposits are likely to hold the key.

I agree with the two posts above, Virgin could purchase 2xA380 and run an LGW & MAN to MCO daily service with them, but their preference seems to be more frequent services rather than bigger aircraft. It would also have to be seen if the Clubhouse could take so many people at once!

Boeing have limited the 747-8's long term success by announcing the 777X but as that won't be available until 2018 earliest I can see Virgin going down the A350-1000 route.

Problem is while they could easily fill 2 x 380s to MCO during the summer holidays, they'd have trouble even filling one off-peak.

There are already several days in the year when they drop one of the LGW-MCO flights altogether.

VS, sadly, have very few - if any - routes that could fill a 380 day in day out. BA and Emirates can afford to fly fresh air around the world but for VS, which can't, smaller twin engine planes, with higher frequency if necessary, are probably the way forward.

I was informed by FSM on my last flight that VA would not get any more aircraft with 4 engines as in his words VA can no longer afford to fly them :0

I was informed by FSM on my last flight that VA would not get any more aircraft with 4 engines as in his words VA can no longer afford to fly them :0

Sounds about right.

Unfortunately the world has moved on from 4-holers and with twins leading the charge with better ETOPS ratings that ever before, VS has been stuck with a fleet of almost exclusively (until the A330's arrived) four engine airplanes whilst rivals have been able to use twins to save on fuel and make more money.

[Darren Wheeler]

4 engines was fine when oil was at $20 a barrel. Now it's at over $100 a barrel, 4 engines are an expensive luxury.

VS, sadly, have very few - if any - routes that could fill a 380 day in day out. BA and Emirates can afford to fly fresh air around the world but for VS, which can't, smaller twin engine planes, with higher frequency if necessary, are probably the way forward.[/quote]

My last two flights on BA380 have been full in all four classes. I don't think any airlines that can afford to fly empty aircraft. If BA can fill a A380 and a 747 to LAX or the same to SIN or HKG then VS should be able to compete. Unfortunately in my opinion whilst the lounge is undoubtably beyond anything BA can offer, TGIF hard product i.e. the flying exoerience has lost its advantage over BA and as such BA is upsizing and VS downsizing.

You also have to remember that BA have an extensive UK and European network, not to mentiont he rest of the planet which provides feed in to their long haul network and fills the aircraft.

Article published yesterday saying Virgin are considering a new 787-10 order in addition to the 787-9 order, and not converting some of the -9s to -10s as previously expected.

http://m.atwonline.com/airframes/virgin ... ng-787-10s

[buns]

Article published yesterday saying Virgin are considering a new 787-10 order in addition to the 787-9 order, and not converting some of the -9s to -10s as previously expected.

http://m.atwonline.com/airframes/virgin ... ng-787-10s

Thanks for this y)

Not sure what Craig Kreeger will make of of longer bei ng CEO ):

buns

To be fair it does say "Virgin Group CEO Richard Branson" - CK is only CEO of Virgin Atlantic.

Whether SRB is technically CEO of the group, of course, is open to debate.

Do we have any idea what the first aircraft will be called yet. Has any registration been assigned?

Do we have any idea what the first aircraft will be called yet. Has any registration been assigned?

Delta Lady ?

So according social media, the first aircraft will be called G-VNEW. Let the guessing games begin as to what she'll be called.....