V-Flyer

There is a lot of focus on the 747 replacement, as well as the increasing number of A330 deliveries, and A346 retirements. I thought it might be worthwhile to look at VS' plans for the A340-300 fleet in more detail.

I believe that there are 4 remaining in service, some of which have been repainted in the metallic livery:
- G-VSUN Rainbow Lady (with AVOD)
- G-VELD African Queen (Oddesey)
- G-VAIR Maiden Tokyo (Oddesey)
- G-VFAR Molly (Oddesey)

The routes these operate seem to be: Nairobi, Vancouver, SFO (VS41/2), Accra, and the odd fill-in on Delhi/Boston/Dubai etc.

I've seen comments elswhere (e.g. Flyertalk) with complaints that some of these aircraft are looking a bit tatty/no-AVOD etc.

So is VS retiring any of these aircraft soon, or refitting them with AVOD before they are seen as the 'old planes' as the LGW fleet were?!

I believe it was originally Virgin's intention to retire these aircraft in 2013, although 3 of them have been painted in the new livery.
The first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners enter service in 2014, and VS have stated on their website that these will replace the A340-300s.