LGW Fleet 747 Metalic Livery

Hi,

Does anyone know when all LGW based 747's will receive the metalic livery, if at all?

Thanks

[mitchja]

Welcome to V-Flyer

All VS aircraft will eventually get the new livery, it's just that they are only done during their normal paint cycle (which I think is around every 5 years?)

This is a pure guess, but I would imagine that no more of the 340's will be done unless they absolutely have to. The 787 deliveries are replacing them in the next couple of years so no point.

I'm sure I saw a second A340-600 in the new livery quite recently - G-VGAS I believe.

I'm sure I saw a second A340-600 in the new livery quite recently - G-VGAS I believe.

G-VEIL and G-VGAS are the only two A340-600's to have the new livery.

You wouldn't think that there would be any point in doing any of the others but I'm not sure how strict the regulations are when aircraft are due a repaint.

They have stopped the rebranding as a cost cutting measure and aircraft are only being repainted as an when required. So expect to see the 2006 livery kicking about til at least 2016. When you consider the US mergers rebrand 100s in a year, Virgin just are not trying. It was the same when they phased out the original white and red.

But unlike alot of the US airlines ie

Continental to United, US Airways to AA, Northwest to Delta they are rebrands.

In fairness to Virgin Atlantic it is just a refresh - not a new name.

Virgin Blue & Pacific Blue rebranded about 3 years ago to Virgin Australia - however they still have planes kicking about in the old red Virgin Blue / Pac Blue liveries.

If you're as marketing savvy and brand conscious as VS portray themselves, then you promote your sexy new image and phase out the old asap. To have a previous brand identity flying about years after a half arsed relaunch is not ideal. VS have under forty aircraft in comparison. A refresh is still a change in customer facing brand. #justgetonanddoit

Any more update on this? As the 747's will be leaving the fleet in 2018/19 would there be much point in re-painting vlip, vgal, vros and vroy?

[mitchja]

A repaint usually takes place at the same time as a full 'D' check which is where the aircraft is completely dis-mantled and rebuilt approx. every 6 years. The paint has to be stripped off to inspect the fuselage during this full 'D' check.

Airlines usually wait until then to do a repaint so if any of the VS 744's are due 'D' checks before they leave the fleet they will also be repainted at the same time.

If not, they probably won't get the new livery .

Ahh I see thanks for the info!

I wonder why they werent repainted back in 2012 during the LGW fleet refit as I believe that was the original intention.

G-VLIP has now been repainted!