Bubbles

I see Bubbles is off to Manila for maintenance at the end of the month. Does anyone know if this is end of lease maintenance, or just a routine check. I assume the later as I didnt think any more aircraft were leaving the fleet until the 787's join in the Autumn.

It is just routine Maintenance. No more 340-600's are planned to leave until 2016.

Many thanks for the confirmation...

I see on Lady P's history she has LGW-XMN down for the 24th, is this a glitch or is she going in for maintenance? I hope not, I desperately wanted to fly her home from NYC before she retires and if she's going out on the 24th, she definitely won't be back for 6th May

XMN is where the 747's have their heavy checks - it is also where some had their refits

It is just routine Maintenance. No more 340-600's are planned to leave until 2016.

G-VSSH and G-VNAP are leaving at the end of the year.
They are already being advertised for sale or long term lease by Airbus, available from January & February 2015.

It is just routine Maintenance. No more 340-600's are planned to leave until 2016.

G-VSSH and G-VNAP are leaving at the end of the year.
They are already being advertised for sale or long term lease by Airbus, available from January & February 2015.

Thats interesting info - their leases don't end until early 2017. Perhaps they are trying to terminate them earlier (OR they will be parked up) but as it stands the leases on NAP and SSH finish in 2017.

It is just routine Maintenance. No more 340-600's are planned to leave until 2016.

G-VSSH and G-VNAP are leaving at the end of the year.
They are already being advertised for sale or long term lease by Airbus, available from January & February 2015.

Thats interesting info - their leases don't end until early 2017. Perhaps they are trying to terminate them earlier (OR they will be parked up) but as it stands the leases on NAP and SSH finish in 2017.

You can google Airbus Asset Management and click 'Aircraft Available' and you will see 7 A340-600s (all VS aircraft) looking for a new home. Out of the 6 already returned to Airbus, only one (G-VSHY) has been sold.
It seems that Virgin can't unload them fast enough....

Had a quick look today on the Airbus site and see only two A346 aircraft showing now.
Wonder where the other 4 are going?

In addition with the gradual reduction of the A346 fleet I see routes such as HKG suffering if these routes end up being B787 with the reduced capacity. Many a time I have done the HKG route to be told by FSM of 300 on the plane which must mean almost full. Certainly UC and PE always chocka.
With BA daily providing a 380 plus a 777 and CX doing 5 77W there is certainly demand on the route.