Slots @ LHR and new routes!

Just read on the front of v-flyer that BA are getting 3 slots out of LHR on loan from VS- a super idea in my view! How are BA using the slots? What route and from when?

Guessing that we will get them back come next year and the arrival of extra 346's correct! So where will we use them for? DXB would be one I guess and Toronto again but the 3rd slot? Any ideas anyone? Also with VS doubling the fleet over the next 3 years or so and therefore doubling the route network- what will happen with regards to slots from LHR- or will we see major expansion from LGW or MAN or another airport! Any thoughts anyone!

The sooner VS fly back to Toronto the better
Think Toronto and DXB would be fairly obvious choices. Think they could do Chicago (remind me, did they fly there pre 9/11?), Dallas or even maybe Rio - I can see the advertising campaigns already...

Dean

Yep VS did Chicago, could do with going on another Blues Brothers location tour, mrs jag so enjoyed the last time I dragged her round some of the,shall we say more colourful areas of the windy city.

Are VS Codesharing with BA in the way they did with Air France?[?]

Thought I'd add a link for those that havent read the times article.

I loved the Headline!!;)

No it wont be a codeshare with BA- they only codeshared with AF because the slots were brought off them and flybe and they wanted to keep them but couldnt operate a route due to lack of a/c so they got AF to continue the route to lyon whilst they looked for someone who could babysit the slots- and in walked BA.

Yes it has to be RIO!!! Rio went on record in airliner world 3 years ago saying how much they want to have VS operate a service to LHR- it would be super!Rio has no direct services from LHR all via Sao Paulo. DXB as well will be good although with so many services to DXB thru BA,Emirates, Qatar,Gulf, ETihad not to mention the likes of Air France or LH im wondering if VS should have started the route sooner and perhaps its too crowded. after all they will only use a 343 on the route i would imagine.

And i just read that link so it looks like next october we will be in for a new route- will imagine an announcement in early part next year! Well where will it be!

Interesting article. Its good to see Virgin working with other major airlines....even if it is BA.

IMO a second daily LHR-HKG is likely, sometime next year. Which will compliment the (soon to be) current LHR-HKG-SYD.

I agree with you guys on DXB and YYZ. I think the answer lies in the wishlist that VS released when they annouced the A346 order. Melbourne?? Rio?? Bangkok?? Chicago?? Jamaica?? Nairobi??

Good point VRocking, with the SYD launch there will effectively be fewer VS seats available flying to HKG.

Another frequency would seem a good idea (perhaps flying onto MEL in the bargain?!)

On the subject of Toronto, I seem to remember that VS opened a Clubhouse there when they originally launched.

Does anyone know if that facility is still there, "mothballed" perhaps, or has it been sold on to someone else?

[mitchja]

Richard, I flew out of YYZ in Upper and there was no Clubhouse open when I was there. It was a shared lounge.

Regards

i think a 2nd daily flight to hk would be great as without the syd route it seems always full.

VS have had rights for a 2nd daily to HKG for a long time now- something around 2-3years the problem came with 9/11 there wasnt a need to use it.VS even announced it to the press and everything. So a 2nd HKG will come soon the question is if the slot is all ready being babysat although it may have been used to launch another service like CPT or if it is one of the 3 given to BA for the time being.

Yeah a second daily to HKG for sure, and definitley another daily service to SFO?

Dean

quote:Yep VS did Chicago, could do with going on another Blues Brothers location tour

I was in Chicago briefly earlier in the year and did a city tour - got very excited, for Blues Brothers reasons, when we went past the Cook County offices.

quote:Cook County offices.

Thats City Hall on the Hon Richard J Daley Plaza
"you mean the one with the Picasso"