Do Virgin have plans to operate the A380?

Does anyone know if virgin have had any plans to operate the A380, i remember seeing a picture of a model a380 on here decked out in virgin livery but... i've never seen one??? ?|

6 on order-due 2013- probably be operated on the high demand LHR routes.

6 on order-due 2013- probably be operated on the high demand LHR routes.

Not entirely. Probably be seen on JFK/EWR maybe somewhere like SFO/LAX but would not be surprised to see them used into MCO. No doubt that frequency wise MCO should see them (and IIRC MCO officials pretty much stated they expected to see VS operate them into MCO). ALthough I never imagined SQ would use them into Zurich so we will see but high density/frequency routes are most likely, and MCO at the moment ticks those boxes (granted not yield wise but still).

However that is of course if VS ever take delivery of them, a very strong school of thought suggests that the order is just a bit of VS spin/PR, especially since they have been deferred to the hills and there have be subsequent orders of the 787 and 330.

Short answer "no".

Hopefully not, would prefer it if they actually changed their minds and plumped for the 748 instead. Tried and trusted and still looks great.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-07-1 ... g-787.html

Delayed their A380's to 2018, five years away. Can't see it ever happening tbh.

I too thought VS were going for the 787 rather than the A380?

I agree, not going to happen is it.

Smaller airlines like VS need to concentrate on buying smaller planes with maximum fuel efficiency, and win new business by investing in customer service and being better rather than showing off with "my plane's bigger than yours" boasts.

Leave the A380 to the big boys for whom money is no object.

[Darren Wheeler]

Apart from MCO in summer, do VS have any routes that justify an A380?

I agree, not going to happen is it.

Smaller airlines like VS need to concentrate on buying smaller planes with maximum fuel efficiency, and win new business by investing in customer service and being better rather than showing off with "my plane's bigger than yours" boasts.

Leave the A380 to the big boys for whom money is no object.

Yes that's so true. VS are only just over 25yrs old right.

Apart from MCO in summer, do VS have any routes that justify an A380?

They could probably fill an A380 to JFK if they combined two (or, on quiet days, three) of the existing flights. That would cut costs but as frequency is presumably one of the main selling points of that route, particularly once the DL JV's up and running, it's very unlikely to happen. And of course they wouldn't want to give up the slots.

Would the 380 look right in VS livery?

http://www.airliners.net/uf/172842/phpCAv2I9.jpeg

Would the 380 look right in VS livery?

http://www.airliners.net/uf/172842/phpCAv2I9.jpeg

Looks great!

Would the 380 look right in VS livery?

http://www.airliners.net/uf/172842/phpCAv2I9.jpeg

Perhaps an over zealous paint job but otherwise yeh could see it...

However in reality, the answer is a resounding no. All the crew I have spoken to on my flights over the past few months have expressed the definitive opinion that it will not be entering the fleet and instead VS will abandon and sell its options in due time.

I guess time will tell as if some miracle gives the pax numbers on any routes to warrant an A380's capacity.

Well AFAIK, VS haven't submitted any A380 plans to HAL covering the next 10 years. vS were very early in ordering these, so I think it was more for the publicity. Remember the promised casinos?

Well AFAIK, VS haven't submitted any A380 plans to HAL covering the next 10 years. vS were very early in ordering these, so I think it was more for the publicity. Remember the promised casinos?

Why would VS submit plans to the HAL 9000?

Yeh VS PR at it's best, but I think we can all agree that at times their actions and indeed reactions are a tad unpredictable - makes life more fun that is for sure ii)

Well AFAIK, VS haven't submitted any A380 plans to HAL covering the next 10 years.

I'm sorry, Dave. I'm afraid I can't do that.

Well AFAIK, VS haven't submitted any A380 plans to HAL covering the next 10 years.

I'm sorry, Dave. I'm afraid I can't do that.

Ha!

I'm sorry, Richard. I'm afraid I can't do that..

Does make you wonder....

Surely if VS upped its game and got the product right they could compete with BA on the A380 routes like LAX & HKG. There was a time a few years ago when I would not of even considered BA metal, where nowadays I have BA Au and not VS. Surely with the higher yield from the A380 they could consider bringing back the differentiators like he on board therapist on certain extra long haul routes.

Surely if VS upped its game and got the product right they could compete with BA on the A380 routes like LAX & HKG. There was a time a few years ago when I would not of even considered BA metal, where nowadays I have BA Au and not VS. Surely with the higher yield from the A380 they could consider bringing back the differentiators like he on board therapist on certain extra long haul routes.

that is a very good point PaulS.
I wonder though if they may consider this once they are back in the black? although some might say that they should take a risk/brave move and by doing so now will get back in the black.
There must be enough demand on certain routes for this.

If only VS launched a SIN route. Since QF have abandoned the route, capacity seems hard to come by at times. The route certainly needs a good PE product.

I too thought VS were going for the 787 rather than the A380?

I'm not even convinced VS will go ahead with the 787 order...

The order was placed in 2007 with 15 planes to replace the A340-300s, which have now (mostly) left service replaced by A330s. Unless they're now going to replace the larger A340-600s? Or cancel for the A350?

I'm not even convinced VS will go ahead with the 787 order...

The order was placed in 2007 with 15 planes to replace the A340-300s, which have now (mostly) left service replaced by A330s. Unless they're now going to replace the larger A340-600s? Or cancel for the A350?

Are the A350s similar to the 346s?

I too thought VS were going for the 787 rather than the A380?

I'm not even convinced VS will go ahead with the 787 order...

The order was placed in 2007 with 15 planes to replace the A340-300s, which have now (mostly) left service replaced by A330s. Unless they're now going to replace the larger A340-600s? Or cancel for the A350?

I'm more certain of this. Recall Boeing paid VS compensation for delayed deliveries, which VS used as deposits on the A333s then sold those they bought to a lessor. So the A333s are leased and whether they'll stay or not when the 787s come I do not know. It's also been confirmed by a VS insider here that work on a 'mystery' UC suite is taking place for the 787s, and that won't be the so called dream suite but something else. At least I think it all went something like this.

Also, VS has no A350s on order, like several I fully expect the A380s to be converted into A350-1000s to offer size and range to replace the 346s.

Depends on the stretch but yes same fuselage new wings two engines.

With either option (787/A350) it looks like VS are downsizing towards smaller more efficient aircraft making the A380 look unlikely.