StillRedHot wrote:The first 2 A330's are going into service with VS. The next 4 off production are being leased, and the remainder will go to VS from 2012.
I think there are still decisions to be made by VS. My reasoning for this view is that it is odd that c/n1201 which is G-VKSS is currently flying around with the green colour primer all over her. The rudder is not even painted in VS red, it is my understanding (and pretty much every picture of a factory fresh aircaft on a.net supports this) that if the aircrafts future carrier is known then the rudder is painted in that carriers colours, as JWhite points out, to get the colouring all correct. This is most odd in my book. Couple that with the fact that aircraft later in the line to G-VKSS are already in their full livery and things begin to look a bit odd.
Aircraft 1 and 2 dont necessarily look to be heading to VS. By production line numbers that is G-VSXY and G-VKSS. G-VSXY has already been confirmed by CI to be in service with them, they even have a seat map on their website, and G-VKSS looks decidely dodgy given the above.
THen there is the issue of Astraeus already advertising G-VINE for ACMI work.
So by my reckoning 3 x 330 (plane numbers 1, 3 and 4 in the order) are off to CI (as confirmed by various fleet listings and the CI seat layout website) and 1 x330 is off to Astraeus for ACMI work. That leaves 1 x 330 for VS but as explained above until I see the red rudder on the back of that bird I wont believe it.
I just still cannot believe the lack of forward planning by VS on this. This order was finalised 13 months ago in the middle of the economic downturn and is hardly years ago when the market/climate couldn't be accurately predicted. In January 2010 VS must have had forecasts as to where they expected to be by say April 2011 (when first plane arrives) and even then when ordering, given the climate this time last year, you would have been at least cautious. I wonder if VS ever intended to take these aircraft factory fresh or if the plan was always to lease them out? I hope the plan was to lease them out factory fresh as I would be seriously worried by what exactly has changed in the last 13 months to make them realise they cant take the order.
