The future of the 4 ex VS A346

Hi
Does anyone know what will happen to G-VSHY, G-VMEG,G-VOGE and G-VFOX in the future. I know that VSHY is going to Airbus for the A350 certification programme. what about the others. Will they be going to someone else or be scrapped?

I doubt they'll be scrapped as they're only on average 10 years old. I guess problem is that not many carriers operate the type so not much call for them.

G-VSHY has been bought by Avaio Ltd., a company based in Douglas on the Isle of Man. I presume they will lease it to another carrier at some point.
As for the other 3 aircraft, they are being offered for sale or long term lease by Airbus. I very much doubt that any of them will be scrapped.

Thank you but is G-VSHY still at LDE

Thank you but is G-VSHY still at LDE

Yes, I believe it is.

Does anybody know where G-VOGE is being stored at the moment?

Does anybody know where G-VOGE is being stored at the moment?

G-VOGE is currently at Manila undergoing maintenance. It will then go to Manchester for repaint into all white and the answer to your question (in a few weeks) will be Lourdes. G-VFOX was withdrawn yesterday and is at Dublin

Apologies in advance but can someone explain the going to Lourdes and repaint white etc.also why are VS getting rid of the A340 when there are far older 747s in the fleet?

Apologies in advance but can someone explain the going to Lourdes and repaint white etc.also why are VS getting rid of the A340 when there are far older 747s in the fleet?

They are leased aircraft so are returned back to the leaser in a white paint job ready for the next leasee to make any changes as required to suit their operation.

About getting rid of the A340's over the 747's, The 744's have a larger seat capacity and the early A346's are overweight and cost more to run in terms of fuel compared to the newer twin engine plans such as the A333.

The 346s only really make sense on long sectors like HKG PVG etc so too many of them in the fleet as they're not as economical as they were planned to be

Does anyone know what routes the A346 are coming off and what their replacements are?

Does anyone know what routes the A346 are coming off and what their replacements are?

They are being replaced by A330's. There will be no more withdrawn now until they decide to withdraw G-VATL, which is now the oldest A340-600 in the fleet

GOA and ATL are leaving next year

GOA and ATL are leaving next year

Really! When was that confirmed
That must mean that G-VEIL is leaving in 2014

G-VOGE went to Lourdes today for storage

GOA and ATL are leaving next year

These two are now being offered for sale by Airbus Asset Management, and will be available in July & October 2013 respectively.

GOA and ATL are leaving next year

Really! When was that confirmed
That must mean that G-VEIL is leaving in 2014

I don't think all 340-600's had 10 year leases - some were for 12_+

looks like G-VSHY and G-VOGE are going to HiFly

Flying to Dubai on vs400 on 16th of April and notice its scheduled as a 340-300, seems to have been an A330 pretty much all the time lately, anyone know why this is changing?

GOA and ATL are leaving next year

Looks like VGOA has left the fleet

GOA and ATL are leaving next year

Looks like VGOA has left the fleet

I donr think so, WKD has just returned from maintenance at MNL.

MNL cover all heavy maintenance on the 346's and its her turn. It is unusual for them to go direct, many go in by changing at Hong Kong on the 200 rotation.

The fleet is fairly intensively used at the moment, will any a/c go before the new aircraft arrive??

GOA and ATL are leaving next year

Looks like VGOA has left the fleet

The fleet is fairly intensively used at the moment, will any a/c go before the new aircraft arrive??

Not really. They have 2 more aircraft than they need currently due to getting the leased out 330's back early and not getting Moscow.

GOA is due back in August from what I am told, so going by the other 346 returns last year, they are pulled out of service a month to 6 weeks before return... which would tie up with the previous comment that GOA has now left the fleet.

Both GOA and ATL will be able to leave the fleet without any "new" aircraft as the "new" aircraft are already in service.

G-VSHY has left the fleet, being delivered to HiFly on 03/07/13. G-VGOA has been withdrawn and has since gone for repaint into all white c/s at manchester

And now G-VATL has left the fleet

Sad to see them leaving as I do love the 346 but we knew it was going to happen