Whats happening with the 330 order? (updated with pics)

No, only interior pics are for in-house eyes only, however the cabin interior looks AMAZING!!

Agreed! The touchscreen system looks great too!

So basically it will be the same system that VX operate. At seat drink ordering, iPod connectivity, etc etc. Nothing new really. EK, NZ, VX to mention three all offer it.

I heard William Hill are placing bets on how long it will be before a whole aircraft reboot is needed ):

I wonder if it will be similar to the touch screens for Hawaiian's new A330's.


IMG_8971 by Nathan Kam, on Flickr

Okay, touch screens.

Think I'll take my antibacterial wipes!

Reminds me of a recent test drive in a VW Golf. All the salesman was interested in was pointing out the damn touchscreen radio and constantly saying "look at this, you'll love this, how wicked is that".

I didn't buy a Golf.

Can't recall the last time i heard of an EX2 equipped aircraft requiring a full system reboot. A very good & reliable system with no annoying seatbox getting in the way of your feet. Mounting the controller below the screen (as VS will have on A330) & not in the seat armrest also reduces wiring/connectors & improves reliability.

Apparantly they are being deliveed to LGW today.

On the local news (BBC Sussex) on friday they were talking about the new VS jobs and where they would be going, they interviewed someone from VS (can't remember who) and they mentioned the new planes (which is why they need new crew they said), they stated the first A330 will fly LGW-MCO on the 1st May.

i think the delivery has been pushed back to tomorrow 14th

On the local news (BBC Sussex) on friday they were talking about the new VS jobs and where they would be going, they interviewed someone from VS (can't remember who) and they mentioned the new planes (which is why they need new crew they said), they stated the first A330 will fly LGW-MCO on the 1st May.

so if they were supposed to be starting in April and are now starting flights in May, they will have to use 747's instead, so ... to fill the Upper seats that have now appeared, whats the chances of an Upper sale ?

David

[mitchja]

Wasn't the plan for LGW to start the 333's in May anyway ?|

It's only MAN that starts on the 333's in April.

I believe the last wave of VS cabin crew recruitment was aimed at the new 333's, although VS are once again recruiting more cabin crew now as well anyway.

Apparently G-VSXY is due to LGW today.

COming in direct from ZRH where she has been with SR Technics since leaving TLS. Not exactly sure what SR Technics have been doing to her, thye seem to do everything from IFE fitouts to Mx Checks to training for crew.

Yep the first a/c G-VSXY starts the MAN/MCO route on 2nd April and then the 2nd a/c G-VKSS starts LGW/MCO at beginning of may. The new crew are for the extra HAV / LAS / GND / TAB services starting this year.

Yep the first a/c G-VSXY starts the MAN/MCO route on 2nd April and then the 2nd a/c G-VKSS starts LGW/MCO at beginning of may. The new crew are for the extra HAV / LAS / GND / TAB services starting this year.

OK so:

1. Extra HAV - when is that and from where?
2. Extra LAS - we assume to be MAN-LAS?
3. Grenada currently weekly, is this one more day or more?
4. Ditto Tobago ... ?

Not that exciting a year then .

Yes MAN / LAS

Extra Havana frequency from LGW on a saturday from Oct '11
Extra Tobago/Grenada on a monday from Dec '11
Extra Accra on a monday from July to September '11
Extra Kingston from LGW on a sunday from Oct '11

So no nothing exciting, just building on what we have, so hopefully some new routes when the rest of the 330s are delivered in 2012

Yes MAN / LAS

Extra Havana frequency from LGW on a saturday from Oct '11
Extra Tobago/Grenada on a monday from Dec '11
Extra Accra on a monday from July to September '11
Extra Kingston from LGW on a sunday from Oct '11

So no nothing exciting, just building on what we have, so hopefully some new routes when the rest of the 330s are delivered in 2012

Thanks for the info!

Do you have any 'thoughts' on potential new routes for next year?

Luke

Yes ...

Thanks VB

Another lovely shot of G-VKSS here..

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Virgin-A ... bf9c5ef46e

A good picture of G-VSXY
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CZZiP9Cqu64/T ... G-VSXY.jpg

Do you have any 'thoughts' on potential new routes for next year?

Do you mean ex LGW?

The issue for ex LGW is that it has to tie in with VH or VH Cruises with whom VS rely heavily on ex LGW.

You then have the added issue of where the rest of the fleet currently operates (ie: across the pond), if you throw in, say somehwere like Pukhet or MLE, you have the 'issues' that BA currently have ex LGW, that being an aircraft has to spend some ridiculous time on the ground in order to make Westbound schedules work. Of course, time on the ground, means the aircraft isnt making money. Even CUN is proving harder for BA to operate at present due to its longer sector time.

An interesting article on future boom package holiday markets said that places such as Recife and Forteleza will be the destinations of the next 10-15 years. TOM used to serve both but the industry consensus was that TOM were too early and the destinations will be better suited once aircraft such as the 787 arrive and British tastes have developed a bit more.


Ex LHR it will be the usual suspects (YVR, Rio, YYZ etc)- however, Africa is a big future destination. PHC never worked out when last operated but Ghana has been very successful.

There are rumours on my local spotters mailing list that one of the VS 333s will be visiting EMA over the next few days for training. Seems to be just a rumour though atm.

[Nottingham Nick]

That would be interesting for us Midlanders.
If you hear any more, can you let us know, please? ^)

Nick

Will do, they reckon Mon or Tues if it is to happen.

'Staus Updates' shows that G-VSXY is doing an afternoon flight out of and back in to LGW on Tuesday 22nd

Saw her this morning parked at the maintenance area at LGW, only got a quick glimpse from the Perimeter Road but still she's here!

There's also about a 40 second longish video of her parked at LGW on Youtube, sorry don't have the link but saw it the other day

Saw her this morning parked at the maintenance area at LGW, only got a quick glimpse from the Perimeter Road but still she's here!

There's also about a 40 second longish video of her parked at LGW on Youtube, sorry don't have the link but saw it the other day

Link here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLJs6aS7Txw

So no surprise that she is doing a lot of crew training. Once upon a time Brize Norton was used by VS for this sort of thing (talking in the days of the 340s being newish). Certainly remember being stood at the end of the runway at Brize with a 343 coming in over head- very exciting.