Orlando Routes

Will the new 787/9 be going the Orlando route anytime soon. I know the 747s have to do this route now through sheer volume of traffic, but as much as they are my favourite mode of transport to Florida, Age and also fuel costs must be an issue now for this route.

No, the 747s will continue to operate LGW/MAN routes for many years yet.

Great news for me! Just what I was hoping to hear.....

G-VROS...

Fuel is actually very cheap right now it is delaying some airlines changing aircraft and making some regret recent acquisitions as the savings are not what was expected against higher leasing costs.

Also the Dreamliner has to many upper seats to regularly sell on the Orlando route and not enough cheap seats.

If the economics are right the 787 can be configured anyway VS wants but given the millions they spent on the 747s a couple of years ago I don't see vs doing anything

6 of the 7 LGW 744s have also had the full works maintenance-wise in China over the past 6-9 months. Must have cost a fair bit.....

G-VROS.....

6 of the 7 LGW 744s have also had the full works maintenance-wise in China over the past 6-9 months. Must have cost a fair bit.....

G-VROS.....

I would have thought this was more routine heavy maintenance checks - far better to get these done in the quiet season when you can free up an aircraft easily, The checks would have cost a fair bit, but are an operational cost all airlines have to take.

The big "update" of the LGW/MAN fleet was back in 2012 / 2013 when they sent the 747's out to Hong Kong / China for complete internal re-fits. This saw the fitting of new Y & PE seats, plus a re-fit of the existing UC seats. More significantly, the JAM (now known as Vera-Touch) IFE system was fitted. At long last the "poor sister" LGW/MAN fleet was in better nick than some of the LHR fleet.

I am not privvy to any VS fleet decision-making, but I too would expect these 747's to be round for a few more years yet.

Is. It likely to also include the LHR fleet to, or are they going to sell those off to replace with 787 or Airbus 350, It also seems 747 do more Caribbean routes now instead of the 330 aircraft. Also the Vegas run.

And a LHR 744 will be reconfigured and moved down to LGW later this year rather than it leave the fleet with the other LHR 744s

ISTBC but the leases on the LGW 747 fleet are up in around 2018/19, so that'd be the window for replacement. I'm expecting VS to cash in their A380 deposits towards A350-1000's as replacements.

Is. It likely to also include the LHR fleet to, or are they going to sell those off to replace with 787 or Airbus 350, It also seems 747 do more Caribbean routes now instead of the 330 aircraft. Also the Vegas run.

Apart from the one LHR 747 going to be refitted for LGW, all the other LHR 747s will be gone by this time-isn next year. Times move on and the small 787 looks like the replacement but a great shame to see them go, VS has flown 747s since it's start.

And a LHR 744 will be reconfigured and moved down to LGW later this year rather than it leave the fleet with the other LHR 744s

Has the individual aircraft been decided yet and will the cabin refit include upgrading the IFE to JAM or keep as is given it's basically a non-touch screen version?

G-VBIG and will be same configuration and Ife as other LGW 744s

I love the 747's, will be really disappointed if they do get rid of them. There's something extra special about flying on such a lovely looking plane.

[Darren Wheeler]

Trouble with the 747 is that is was designed for a bygone era when fuel was $20 a barrel on an expensive day. The 100, 200 and 400 models introduced new technologies to improve fuel efficiency and increase payload, but the days of 4-engined passenger aircraft are numbered. Just look at the orders for the 747-8I.

122 ordered, 51 passenger delivered with the rest being the cargo version. About 40% of the passenger versions are for Lufthansa. USAF have agreed to purchase 2 to replace the -200 operating as 28000 and 29000 (Air Force One).

Even the A380 days are reported to be numbers for new versions.

I asked one of the senior cabin crew on our flight out to Vegas as they use the LGW/MAN 747 fleet regarding the " Dreamliner " he told me by 2017 they would be flying the 787 to Vegas as the 747 was not fuel efficient! I thought hmmm I laughed sat in PE as two announcements to fasten seat belts as regular Vegas fliers have experienced there was no turbulence then a final announcement " sorry you have drank the plane dry no alcohol left " don't think you will see a 787 for many years. Let's hope if Pretty Woman is VS44 on 14th we have no issues!

Do we know why G-VBIG will be transferred as she is 1 of the older 747's?. G-VROC is 7 years younger. Either way just glad we will be keeping the 747's at Man for a few more years. Flew back from Atlanta 2 weeks ago and UC felt very claustrophobic.

[Darren Wheeler]

Possibly because of the lease being up on ROC where as BIG is owned by VS?

Edit: GINFO shows ROC as chartered and BIG is owned.

Interesting as Planespotters shows both as leased and code Q8 is ILFC I assume VS have bought her off lease at sometime past. Thanks for the info.

I'm still betting that the 747 fleet will be replaced by A350-1000's across the LHR/LGW/MAN fleets.

According to Airbus, the aircraft will 'typically' seat 369 passengers but I suspect that 10 abreast in Y + a more leisure oriented config would see the capacity just about match the LGW 747 fleet.

Flying on our curvy 747s is like boarding onto an old friend, come on sit down, have a drink, relax and enjoy our comfort and watch a movie. Thanks very much. These lovely planes suit me.

[Darren Wheeler]

Could go down the 777 route. If you can pilot a 787, you can pilot a 777 and vis versa

I'm still betting that the 747 fleet will be replaced by A350-1000's across the LHR/LGW/MAN fleets.

According to Airbus, the aircraft will 'typically' seat 369 passengers but I suspect that 10 abreast in Y + a more leisure oriented config would see the capacity just about match the LGW 747 fleet.

Can't see VS going 10 across on an A350, 16.5 inch wide seats would be horrible, even compared to the 17.2 inches and narrow aisles on the 787's. I expect they would get around 380-400 passengers in a 'leisure' configured A350 which would make a good replacement for the 744's if they ordered say 10 and increased the frequencies. Of course it would be great to see a shiny new fleet of 748's take over but I'd put its chances at slim to none sadly .