Virgin's A340 Fleet

I've noticed that our flights to and from Washington at the end of April/early May have been changed as of today from A330s to A340-600s.

How many A340s are left in the Virgin fleet, and what state are they in?! We'll be in Upper, but I imagine the seats will be well past their best.

Thanks for any information.

[mitchja]

There are 3 x A340-600's left in service:

G-VNAP
G-VWIN
G-VFIT

G-VNAP is by far the worst in terms of the condition of the cabins as many of the IFE screens no longer work. I've sat in both Premium and Upper on NAP and both seats had a faulty IFE (as did most of the Upper cabin). Pray the crew have enough iPads to use instead. The cabin and washrooms are also pretty shabby on NAP as well now

I suggest you take your own device and load it up before you fly as not all the listed content is available on the iPads.

This was NAP when I flew to ATL last year:

Faulty IFE
IMG_0713.jpeg (1.37 MiB) Viewed 4695 times

Shoddy washrooms
IMG_0715.jpeg (2.23 MiB) Viewed 4695 times

The Upper Class seat itself was OK and in reasonable condition.

VS just threw some miles at me when I complained about the state of NAP.

I believe the other 2 are still in reasonable condition though.

Thanks James, that's about what I thought.

It's almost inevitable that we'll be on NAP both ways!

Got 10,000 miles other week for faulty IFE on NAP, ideal little bonus I saw it as haha

Thats pretty generous! Basically NYC economy rtn equivalent miles

My ATL UC flights in April are now showing as moved from A330s to A346

Glad I checked as they had my son in G row, daughter in K and my wife and I in A.
Guess reservation system does not realise primary school kids probably want to be next to parents.

The 789 engine problems must have costed RR a fortune as they go back to 2016.

Does anyone know currently how many VS has parked up?

Currently G-VOOH and G-VNYL are parked up.

The latter hasn’t performed a revenue flight since June last year.

The latter hasn’t performed a revenue flight since June last year.

Don't jinx it! I could do without being lumbered with a 340 on my trips this year...

Anyone know what's going on with G-VNAP? She's been sitting at LGW for almost 2 weeks now. Was curious to know timeline for withdrawal of the last 3 A346s.

Just a guess, but with PVG currently suspended that will have unexpectedly freed up a 787.

It would make sense to utilise that 787 and park up one of the A340’s....?

Rumour is they’re staying for another 2 years

Rumour is they’re staying for another 2 years

Unless they fall apart...

Rumour is they’re staying for another 2 years

It might explain where the aircraft are coming from to accommodate these extra routes that have been announced, particularly when 747 withdrawals and new aircraft deliveries are accounted for.

I found this site that shows the A340 schedule to the end of May:


https://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/289600/virgin-atlantic-s20-a340-600-operation-changes-as-of-15feb20/

[mitchja]

Rumours now circulating that VS have retired their 3 remaining A346's with immediate effect.

Does that mean cancellations?

[mitchja]

I wouldn't think so as 2 of the A346's have been parked for a couple of weeks now anyway.

NAP last flew 15th Feb & WIN last flew 19th Feb. Only FIT has been working right upto Mar 2nd.

Rumours now circulating that VS have retired their 3 remaining A346's with immediate effect.

PLEASE let this be true.

Yes now confirmed they are leaving within next couple of weeks

So this is driven by the reduced demand e.g. Hong Kong, Shanghai, Sao Paulo flights I assume with new A350s expected shortly before demand returns?

My April ATL flight is still showing under manage my booking as of today A346 out and also return two weeks later.

My IAD flights in April are also showing A346 in both directions so guess it’s another one of those check twice daily rituals

Understand that VS is reviewing all schedules for March right now, including frequencies and aircraft so I would expect changes on the app to reflect soon.

My IAD-LHR in late march has gone back to an A333

VWIN has just left LGW on the 57 to BGI, so they havent gone yet?

Would VS publicise their last ever 346 flight in case anyone wanted to go along for the ride?