Keeping track of the fleet

I highly doubt it. I think the A350 was scheduled to enter on this route about this time pre-Covid 19. Now with passenger numbers down I'm sure they will have considered keeping on the smaller 787. My guess is that the driver is with the A350 they can transport more cargo which at the moment seems to be somewhat mitigating the reduced passenger numbers. As far as I'm aware passenger numbers will still be very low given FCO advice in the UK and US restrictions on the UK in terms of passenger movements - other than repatriating.

Is worth mentioning that VS23 switched to A350 ops yesterday

Does this mean loads are good, given the increase in capacity?!

LAX was getting at leas one 351 in May anyway, or thereabouts. One daily 351 is a lot less capacity than three 787's in the summer and a 332 from MAN.

[mitchja]

I would also guess that cargo capacity rather than pax capacity is the key factor at the minute as doesn't the A350 have a higher cargo capacity compared to a B789?

I know from talking to people at work that booking air freight is increasingly different now due to reduced capacity worldwide so I would guess airlines are helping this by op-ing A/C that offer more cargo capacity.

They are PVG cargo flights, seems strange looking at the cabin configured for cargo ops;

https://twitter.com/gemma_brazier/statu ... 1091352577

I would also guess that cargo capacity rather than pax capacity is the key factor at the minute as doesn't the A350 have a higher cargo capacity compared to a B789?

I know from talking to people at work that booking air freight is increasingly different now due to reduced capacity worldwide so I would guess airlines are helping this by op-ing A/C that offer more cargo capacity.

That's also a very good point James.

Working in the freight industry sending airfreight is at a premium cost at the moment where as you would pay £1 per kg you are now being quoted £4-£5 a kg and only valid for 1 week as rice will change

[mitchja]

VS have posted a blog about their cargo only ops here.

More on the PVG flight:

“Virgin Atlantic has teamed up with Virgin Group’s not-for-profit foundation, Virgin Unite, to fly a special charter flight from Shanghai to London, bringing in essential medical supplies and PPE equipment for the National Health Service (NHS).

The Boeing 787-9 aircraft operated the VS251 from Shanghai which departed at 11:40 local time on 3rd April landing at 16:50 on 3rd April into London Heathrow.

Manned by seven pilots and four cabin crew, the aircraft is carrying over 350,000 items of essential PPE supplies and medical equipment including respirators, ventilator parts, face masks, scrubs, aprons and eye protection in both the hold and in the cabin of the aircraft.

These essential items will help keep NHS heroes working on the frontline safe and will support patients who are in great need.”

Theres a video of the arrival on instagram if anyone's interested:
https://www.instagram.com/p/B-fmydfh9Kl/

Seems like it must be for cargo as according to the post there was only 11 passengers onboard and 28 tons of cargo.

Yesterdays VS250/251 was a cargo flight, operated by a single crew with a 3 hour stop in Shanghai before heading back to London. They had to get special dispensation from the CAA to operate this way.

https://www.inflightwithjames.com/post/ ... -shanghai/

Further info and pictures from the PVG flight:


https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus- ... a-11968311

With the news today that the 747 fleet is retired with immediate effect, G-VROS made the move from storage at Heathrow to Manchester today as VS847P (source The VSSource)
G-VROY was moved around on the tarmac there last week but remains on the ground.

I’ve been wondering about the fleet make up, and how that reconciles with the statement in yesterday’s announcement (see link below)that:

“By 2022 the simplified, greener fleet will comprise of 36 twin engine aircraft”

https://corporate.virginatlantic.com/gb ... uture.html

I think we can take it as read that this means the B744s, A340s and the A332s will be gone, leaving a fleet of B789, A35K and A333 / A339 (subject to deliveries and retirements).

If that is so, it seems they must be cutting the A330 fleet substantively:

B789: 17 aircraft in service and presumably retained at LHR.

A35K: 12 aircraft ordered, all of which are scheduled for delivery by 2022. Presumably split between LHR and MAN in some ratio.

This means a cumulative total of 29 aircraft.

A339neo: this was an order of 14 aircraft, with options for 6 more. Deliveries due to start in 2021. Airbus describes this as a “firm” order for 8, plus 6 from Aer Cap.

My thoughts: if you assume the 6 options are non-committal, and the 6 via Aer Cap can be delayed or removed, but the 8 from Airbus are committed, this brings the cumulative total of aircraft to 37 aircraft. The only way I can reconcile this to the 36 aircraft in the statement is that at the period of time referred to in the statement, all A333s have gone and there is one A339 slated for delivery.

I suppose cutting the B744 (already the A340) and removing the A332 and A333 pretty much as soon as they can, this will save costs in the short term (2020 - 2022) and perhaps position the airline for when hopefully times improve from 2022.

The caveat to all of this is survival!

Any views?

I agree with basically what you say, the 333's will go as the 339's arrive. However has someone got their sums wrong as 17 x 789, 12 x A350 and 8 x 339 is more than 35.. Surely we cant see the early 789's going and hopefully by 2022, there will be shoots of growth and 37-40 aircraft could be the size of the fleet.

The interesting statement is that VS havent actually sold the LGW slots, so must hope to return in 24-36 months?

If they are waiting fr the value of the slots to go up, I fear a long wait, and if they were going to sell them, they need the cash now. Do we know how many slot pairs VS have at LHR & LGW?

[mitchja]

Last year is was mentioned that the 789’s where reaching their half way point and so a refurb was on the cards for them. No idea if that is still the plan now though?

Having flown on a VS 789 to/from LAX in late Feb, the 2 I flew on, the J cabin was still in great condition.

Having flown on a VS 789 to/from LAX in late Feb, the 2 I flew on, the J cabin was still in great condition.

I agree with you on the condition. I generally view the 789's as "new". However, remember they said they were looking into aligning the J product across the fleet? I think the plan was to have a modified Upper Class Suite on the 789s like the 351s. Whether that was ever true I do not know, but it was alluded to. Probably out of the window now

I agree with basically what you say, the 333's will go as the 339's arrive. However has someone got their sums wrong as 17 x 789, 12 x A350 and 8 x 339 is more than 35.. Surely we cant see the early 789's going and hopefully by 2022, there will be shoots of growth and 37-40 aircraft could be the size of the fleet.

I assume the explanation is either at the snapshot in time VS are referring to there will either be one fewer A339 delivered than A333 retired, or the plan is for one aircraft to be in maintenance at all times, or the nature of the B789 engine issues is such that one aircraft will always be out of service at any one time.

The interesting statement is that VS havent actually sold the LGW slots, so must hope to return in 24-36 months?

If they are waiting fr the value of the slots to go up, I fear a long wait, and if they were going to sell them, they need the cash now.

Im not sure I understand VS’s comments on this, other than as a statement of warm feeling towards its spiritual home.

If they are not used and not sold and leased, they cannot be protected and they go.

If they are sold, they go.

Subject to what happens with BA and Norwegian at LGW (and whether anyone like EZY, RYR, WIZZ are able and willing to fill the gap) I don’t see that there will be a demand for second hand slots if other operators decide that can sweep them up from the pool when they are returned without the capital outlay. If there is no demand, they go.

Ultimately, certainly whilst there is slack at LHR, it is difficult to see what VS can do at LGW that is cannot do at LHR or MAN.

Pretty Woman....G-VROY just departed Heathrow as VS801P bound for Glasgow according to Planefinder

And now VWAG en route from LHR to MAN as VS805P

Is worth mentioning that VS23 switched to A350 ops yesterday

Does this mean loads are good, given the increase in capacity?!

See James' comment above regarding the increased cargo capacity of the 351.

G-VROY been transfered to Glasgow for storage from Gatwick it seems. Rumour has it an A330 is going up to Glasgow tomorrow as well. So that will be 2x 747 and 2x A330 in glasgow

I highly doubt it. I think the A350 was scheduled to enter on this route about this time pre-Covid 19. Now with passenger numbers down I'm sure they will have considered keeping on the smaller 787. My guess is that the driver is with the A350 they can transport more cargo which at the moment seems to be somewhat mitigating the reduced passenger numbers. As far as I'm aware passenger numbers will still be very low given FCO advice in the UK and US restrictions on the UK in terms of passenger movements - other than repatriating.

Yes the A351 was scheduled to be swapped on the Heathrow - LAX service from April. when i booked out flights for OCtober back before this all happeend the lady on the phone said "oh lucky you going on the new A350" i said oh i thought it was a 787 she said "It is at the moment but they are putting the A350 on it from April permanent"

G-VROY been transfered to Glasgow for storage from Gatwick it seems. Rumour has it an A330 is going up to Glasgow tomorrow as well. So that will be 2x 747 and 2x A330 in glasgow

and Doncaster is beginning to collect the A333's....

[mitchja]

G-VROY been transfered to Glasgow for storage from Gatwick it seems. Rumour has it an A330 is going up to Glasgow tomorrow as well. So that will be 2x 747 and 2x A330 in glasgow

and Doncaster is beginning to collect the A333's....

Rumours are that is because LHR are about to increase their parking fees from next week.

Ballpark, how much is it to "park" an aircraft like this?