What aircraft for the proposed new routes?

Hi guys,
Long time since my last posted and ive still got to do a TR for my return from HK. Anywho does anyone know or can make an educated guess as to what aircraft VS will use on its proposed new routes? Here are my guesses:

Toronto:744/343
Melbourne:346
Dubai:346
Rio:744/346
Havana:744
Nassau:343
Bangkok:346/744
Chicago:346/744
Jamaica (monetgo bay or Kingston?):744
Mumbai:744/346/343?
Nairobi:343/346

as you can probably see i have no clue lol.

Bear in mind that some LHR 744s are moving to LGW and MAN and soon the vast majority of ex-LHR VS flights are going to be 346s/343s. 744s tend to be used where higher economy loads are exepcted, so I would assume that they will continue to service the Caribbean and a couple of selected North America destinations (LAX/SFO?) and the rest will be Airbuses, particularly given the number on order.

I am still struggling to understand any rationale for going back to ORD given that this is a UA hub... presumably VS will wait to see how many of the current US airlines survive and also how well VS America will do before restarting this route.

BC

Thanks BC. which routes will be from LHR and which from LGW?

quote:Originally posted by G-VSKY
Thanks BC. which routes will be from LHR and which from LGW?

Well, anything Caribbean or bucket and spade flavoured is bound to be ex-LGW. The remaining 5 744s will presumably service LHR, SFO and the odd flight with high economy loads to places like JNB. I'd presume that non-Caribbean routes will be ex-LHR but a VS insider would have a much better idea. Certainly Toronto and Chicago were based at LHR when they were running.

BC

also a bit OT but the A340-300s will VS get rid of all of them or keep some for new routes or lo load routes as the 346 has quite a high seat amount and teh 343 is the smallest a/c in teh fleet surely tehre are some routes that are 343 niche routes for VS probably PHC.

Hi G-VSKY

Havana and Nassau will commence in July with a 744 from LGW. Everything else on the list is just a rumour or A.net waffle Of those on the list the strongest rumour is Dubai which I'd guess would be a 343 or 346. There is hardly any spare capacity at the moment and I can't foresee much in the near term - 2 new 346s are arriving early 2005 but to counter this extra a/c will be needed for SYD, extra LGW flying and replacement of the Air Atlanta 742 in MAN.

Re the 343s, no retirement dates at the moment but it has been announced that the 4 Arcadia equipped a/c (BUS/AEL/FLY/SUN) will eventually leave the fleet whilst the remaining 343s will be re-fitted with UCS next year.

Cheers
Alan