V-Flyer

Its just been announced that NBO is ending on Sep 24th.

It's not making any cash.

Is there a link for this announcement please?

It's been announced sure a press release will follow

Thank you - have found this report:

http://www.ratio-magazine.com/201205164101/Corporate-Press-Releases/Kenya-Press-Release-Virgin-Atlantic-Cancels-Nairobi-London-Route.html

Already a complaint about it on the VS FB page.

Suffering from very low loads.

What's the complaint on Facebook

virgin is the best wrote:What's the complaint on Facebook

er that it's ending !

Go and have a look you don't need to have liked the VS FB page to look and comment.

I also guess that this is where one of the planes to operate the reinstated Mumbai and the addtional NYC comes from

No need for the attitude I was only asking a question! Not everyone is on Facebook.

virgin is the best wrote:No need for the attitude I was only asking a question! Not everyone is on Facebook.

I don't think Tonty replied with any attitude, you said that the route was ending, Tonty said someone has already complained on Facebook, you asked what the complaint was about. What did you expect as an answer?
And as Tonty said in his reply, you don't need to of "liked" Virgin Atlantic on facebook, so can look without even logging on.

I'd been led to believe that it was the cargo that generated the majority of revenue on this route. I'm not surprised it's been pulled - just surprised that it took this long.
DL

Oh well there goes my chance of a G on that route next year (planning on trekking Kilimanjaro then heading to SA for a safari).

So that explains where the slot and aircraft for VS25 is coming from. As I said on the other thread, I am far from convinced that VS is actually growing despite what spin they may put on things. It's always take with one hand, give with the other.

The airline seems a million miles away from where it was 3-4 years ago with double daily HKG, BOM, VS25, NBO, etc etc

Indeed, it seems there are more and more lightly loaded flights pulled leaving spare AC, by my reeckoning there are 8 planes on the ground at LHR overnight tonight(although a couple would be scheduled maintenance). No 9 or 23 today

VS 41 seems to run on a varying number of days in the week, although this is reckoned as one of the busiest routes.

Can someone please satisfy my curiosity, if VS cancel a flight, and a slot goes unused in a day, is there a penalty served by the BAA?

I have travelled this route a few times in all 3 classes out of school holidays and its usually been quite full. Its always been a A343 and that plane does not make flying Virgin special - especially in economy where its so dated (very old economy style seat). I wonder how BA/kenya perform as the latter is pretty good and whether the A343 hasn't gained any loyalty for Virgin.

I don't think there is a penalty for not using a slot on a particular day but over an extended period then yes it would be looked at. Afterall a mechcanical or weather delay could stop an airline using it .

I recall a story about BA operating a flight to Cardiff (and back!) once a week simply in order to keep the LHR slots it had earmarked for a long haul route it hadn't started operated.

RLF wrote:
VS 41 seems to run on a varying number of days in the week, although this is reckoned as one of the busiest routes.

The VS 41 goes on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays and the other four days of the week will be taken up by the Vancouver route when it starts next week

I know a lot of noise is quite rightly being made about BA getting the BMI slots, however I see nothing from VS strategically to suggest that they are capable of doing anything other than joining in on routes already established. I don't see any substantive action towards an imaginative or new set of destinations offering growth/breadth of choice for the consumer.

BA appear to be very much in a period of resurgence, and I think things are looking quite ominous from a VS perspective as a standalone non-alliance carrier.

Thanks Honey Lamb, but according to the which aircraft, its only run once a week since late April. I assume the schedule is correct because I recall reading that its a direct feed from VS. So it seems to be being pulled 2 out of 3 services...

and thank you Tontybear for the info about the slots....

We keep hearing from BAA, business leaders and politicians that Heathrow risks becoming a European "branch line" unless it's able to expand to serve emerging markets in places like China and Brazil.

If they're so important for our future and potentially lucrative to airlines, why isn't VS grasping the bull by the horns, getting a headstart on BA and launching a Shanghai or Sao Paulo route instead of yet another New York flight?

Or are these emerging markets not the vitally important, UK economy-driving cash cow the pro-3rd runway lobby would have us believe?

Erm, VS already has a Shanghai route ?|

Will Vancouver be the start of more services to Canada, lets hope so...Agree South America is also an emerging market, with perhaps another city in China.

RLF wrote:Will Vancouver be the start of more services to Canada, lets hope so...Agree South America is also an emerging market, with perhaps another city in China.

Would be happy to see flights to any of the above, particularly South America y)

Isn't Rio on the list and haven't VS even had talks with the Brazillian Authorities re approvals etc. (I can even see some tacky adverts by VS already in my head !)

Given the 2014 world cup and the 2016 olympics it would be a great start.