Silver Surfer wrote:G-VDOG wrote:They’re not retiring the 300s for another few years. Extended the leases.
G-VSXY/KSS/LUV/GEM have recently had heavy maintenance checks done in Xiamen. Virgin has stated that all A330-300s will have left the fleet by 2026.
There are also a few outstanding A350 deliveries in addition to the neos, and bearing in mind the decision to bring forward 747 withdrawals instead of waiting for their replacements and the ex-Air Berlin A330-200s never working again beyond March 2020, it's probably left VS a number of aircraft short in the interim. With pretty much everywhere on the VS network now open for business again and with new routes in the offing (Seoul, Male and Providenciales) despite certain other pre-pandemic routes not returning, the existing fleet are no doubt useful backfillers in the short-term until more new aircraft are delivered.
That said, the -300s are probably looking quite tired now, particularly the Economy and PE cabins (UCS seats were only fitted about 5 or so years ago), so if shabby aircraft are turn-off they may be ones to avoid where you can.