V-Flyer

With there now being six registrations mentioned for only five planes, does anyone know which one has been dropped?

G-VLIB - Confirmed - Delivery April 2022
G-VEVE - Confirmed
G-VNVR - Unconfirmed (but given the name, surely this one wouldn’t be dropped.)
G-VBOB - Unconfirmed
G-VELJ - Unconfirmed
G-VWHY - Unconfirmed

I would have loved to see them take up the 5th lease option bringing the total to 6 A/C so that could cement the registrations and names but that probably won’t happen due to cash in short supply at the moment

DIAZLUXO wrote:I would have loved to see them take up the 5th lease option bringing the total to 6 A/C so that could cement the registrations and names but that probably won’t happen due to cash in short supply at the moment

My prediction is that the one that isn’t used will be transferred to a 339. But, like with the 747s, Virgin couldn’t cope with only 5 leisure planes. So, they could get another couple, or they could do what they did with the 747s and reconfigure 2 or 3 of the Heathrow ones.

I think NVR will definitely remain, so I think it’s between the other 3.

All we can do is wait and see which A350 reg has to bite the bullet. Only if it comes to that however

DIAZLUXO wrote:All we can do is wait and see which A350 reg has to bite the bullet. Only if it comes to that however

Another possibility, but I don’t know if it can be done. Re-registering G-VTEA to G-VEVE?

I don’t think you can do that but i’m happy to be proven wrong...

Looks like we have got some answers:
G-VLIB MSN 492
G-VEVE MSN 507
G-VWHY MSN 513
G-VNVR MSN 521
G-VELJ MSN 547

All stated on here. Probably still subject to further change. No mention of G-VBOB.

https://fr.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_d ... production

Further updates to the A350s

G-VEVE MSN 492 - Due January 2022
G-VELJ MSN 507 - Due sometime between JAN-APR
G-VWHY MSN 513 - Due sometime between JAN-APR
G-VNVR MSN 521 - Due sometime between JAN-APR
G-VLIB MSN 547 - Due April 2022

G-VBOB will probably be transferred to an A330-900.
MSN numbers subject to change.

Now confirmed on the Ruby blog the next A350 to be delivered will be registered G-VEVE and named ‘Fearless Lady’ in honour of Eve Branson...

https://blog.virginatlantic.com/remembe ... thers-day/

VS075 wrote:Now confirmed on the Ruby blog the next A350 to be delivered will be registered G-VEVE and named ‘Fearless Lady’ in honour of Eve Branson...

https://blog.virginatlantic.com/remembe ... thers-day/

G-VEVE is the replacement of G-VBOB so the parts are already built.

They have estimated a January 2022 delivery and G-VEVE is set to be the first of the next A350s so we won't be seeing any new deliveries for about a year sadly...

DIAZLUXO wrote:They have estimated a January 2022 delivery and G-VEVE is set to be the first of the next A350s so we won't be seeing any new deliveries for about a year sadly...

They should all be delivered in time for the summer rush next year. However, I do believe that some of the Heathrow ones will join the leisure fleet due to the capacity of these aircraft compared to others in the fleet.

I think they would use the 5 A350 and a sufficient amount of A330 until the Heathrow aircraft reach around 20 years of age and then they will reconfig G-VTEA and G-VRNB, leaving G-VDOT, JAM ,PRD ,POP and LUX to be retired like what was previously done with G-VFAB, HOT, TOP, ROC and WOW. (747-400s)

DIAZLUXO wrote:I think they would use the 5 A350 and a sufficient amount of A330 until the Heathrow aircraft reach around 20 years of age and then they will reconfig G-VTEA and G-VRNB, leaving G-VDOT, JAM ,PRD ,POP and LUX to be retired like what was previously done with G-VFAB, HOT, TOP, ROC and WOW. (747-400s)

My prediction would be JAM and DOT being reconfigured next year in time for the others joining leaving LUX, POP, PRD and the two leased ones (RNB and TEA) at Heathrow like what they did with the 747s. Once travel is allowed again, leisure travel will have a much higher demand meaning that extra capacity will be needed.

But bear in mind the 7 A350 replace some A340s

5 A350s at Heathrow would be more than enough to substitute the a340s.

Don’t forget the fleet strategy has changed dramatically because of COVID!

The leisure 350s would have been dual base LGW/MAN but now will all rotate through LHR.

From monitoring loads ISB and LHE are daily full in the Y and W cabins but rarely see more than half of J taken up. Maybe that will change after lockdown, but I could see a “leisure” config 350 making a killer here!

787s were never part of the plan for MAN, but I can see them continuing to be a part of the scene there for quite some time, so I don’t think the fleet will be quite so easy to define as it was when we still had 747s.

Time will tell, and I’m sure that VS will keep things as agile as possible to maximise revenue!

It seems like the A350 is quickly becoming the 'swiss army knife' of VS' operation. Evident in the way Captain Chris Pohl praises the aircraft for its cargo hold size and fuel efficiency

DIAZLUXO wrote:It seems like the A350 is quickly becoming the 'swiss army knife' of VS' operation. Evident in the way Captain Chris Pohl praises the aircraft for its cargo hold size and fuel efficiency

I can see them placing more orders if travel restarts during this year. Maybe another 3-5.

Wouldn’t that take years to receive aircraft if they place a new order now

DIAZLUXO wrote:Wouldn’t that take years to receive aircraft if they place a new order now

For a start, they could purchase F-WMIL. Also, they could purchase/lease any that airlines cancel last minute (like what they did with GAL, ROY, ROM, ROS & LIP).

There needs to be a level of seriousness here, the airline needs to restart its full flying programme, assess what that will look like and where and what is viable in the new normal, do we need 5x JFKs? 3x LAXs? Is Pakistan a flash in the pan in response to the Pakistani pilots crisis that was a welcome cash cow for the short term, or is it a long term part of the route network? UK is inching towards more trade with Japan and Asian countries, what will that mean for flights out east? VS is the market leader for Florida from the UK, will that still be the case in a new world? There’s a massive pent up demand for travel once things reopen but then perhaps will we see smaller markets following the initial burst with people choosing to stay local and green (I suspect people won’t by the way, but it’s an unknown) longer term economic recovery could impact a lot of people.

There’s far too many questions and threats right now to start looking to expand the fleet! Yes there’s opportunities in much of what I have said above, but there is a rebuilding and reassessment that needs to be done first.

After some recent mixups of the order of deliveries for the final five, here is the correct order:
G-VEVE - due late 2021 (NOV/DEC) - to enter service JAN 2022.
G-VLIB - due Q1 2022
G-VWHY - due Q1 2022
G-VNVR - due Q1/Q2 2022
G-VELJ - due Q2 2022 - to be in service in time for the summer.

Is it clear at this point which 2 are going to be leased?

My guess would be that they will lease EVE and LIB and own ELJ, NVR & WHY.

DIAZLUXO wrote:Is it clear at this point which 2 are going to be leased?