A339 DELIVERIES

[mitchja]

G-VRIF has gone into service today as the VS3 to JFK.

So 8 NEO’s by year end that’s pretty good going. VS3 is ideal most east coast LHR routes will have it now then.

Our LHR-MCO-LHR flighrs in Feb 25 are showing as A333 outbound, A339 inbound, h8wever originally A350

G-VEYR, MSN2078, 7th Neo just delivered at LHR this afternoon

G-VEYR entered service today as VS5 LHR-MIA

Watch this space for a seating configuration update next week.

[mitchja]

Purely speculation but planespotters.net have the next A339 (G-VPIE) with a slightly different seat config:

J30 W64 Y216

All other A339's are currently J31 W48 Y185

My guess will be a new leisure config with the loft area going to allow space for extra W and Y seats and a booth will be added at the front replacing one of the existing washrooms and so hence 1 less J seat.

I would guess existing A339's will not change though giving 2 x A339 configs as per the current 2 x A350 configs.

Purely speculation but planespotters.net have the next A339 (G-VPIE) with a slightly different seat config:

J30 W64 Y216

All other A339's are currently J31 W48 Y185

My guess will be a new leisure config with the loft area going to allow space for extra W and Y seats and a booth will be added at the front replacing one of the existing washrooms and so hence 1 less J seat.

I would guess existing A339's will not change though giving 2 x A339 configs as per the current 2 x A350 configs.

The NEOs have 32/46/184 at the moment. The CEOs have 31/48/185. I’ve heard a Bigger W and J cabin with a smaller Y cabin and no social space.

Not sure how I feel about a different A339 config - it's going to become a headache if you're suddenly swapped from one 339 type to another 339 type (especially if you're flying in Premium with such a big difference in seats). I thought they were trying to simplify the fleet!

[mitchja]

Thanks. Sorry yes, I was getting my NEOs and CEOs mixed up.

Not sure how I feel about a different A339 config - it's going to become a headache if you're suddenly swapped from one 339 type to another 339 type (especially if you're flying in Premium with such a big difference in seats). I thought they were trying to simplify the fleet!

It hardly ever happens. Look at the 2 different A350s.

Newer neos - from 2026 will have upperclass for nearly half the aircraft, premium from half way to the 3 doors and then a tiny economy area in the back.

Newer neos - from 2026 will have upperclass for nearly half the aircraft, premium from half way to the 3 doors and then a tiny economy area in the back.

Really? What’s the source? And do you know the actual count?

If true, that sounds great. Especially more opportunities for UC saver rates now with dynamic pricing

My contact knows the count. She said more upper than the 350-1000.

Wow that’s a lot!

Got me thinking… as they are having trouble, like Ba, with Boeing engines and delays, perhaps this is to compensate that and maybe even reduce number of 787 planes.

Example; 3 flights to LAX during summer season.
2x A350 and 1x Boeing. Neo having more than 44 UC seats, could potentially replace the flight operating Boeing and withdraw one A350 and use that on another flight..

[mitchja]

Back to a spilt J cabin if true though, which was never fun (if anyone remembers those dreadful A343's and that horrible spilt J cabin ).

Let's not even mention the way crewing is operated with barebones crew numbers these days, J barely has enough crew now as it is.

Back to a spilt J cabin if true though, which was never fun (if anyone remembers those dreadful A343's and that horrible spilt J cabin ).

Let's not even mention the way crewing is operated with barebones crew numbers these days, J barely has enough crew now as it is.

Depends on how it was done

The old LHR 747-400 were great with split J. Went on a couple of V-Flyer jaunts where we took over the whole of the front cabin and had dedicated crew crew serving us ! One of those flights you can never forget (and one my liver took weeks to recover from !!)

[mitchja]

Another issue with a bigger J cabin is going to be the extra weight of those seats as well.

I suspect it might be a split similar to AF A350 which can be 10 rows, then a further 4 rows. Wonder if they will do 4 retreat suites, similar to AF bigger seats in row 1 and row 10…
But since this is the A330 body, I suspect it would be perhaps:

Current A390:
Row 1-27 UC
45-51 or 45- 60 - Prem
Rest - Econ

For me, makes sense. More seats in UC/Prem that make more money. Less 787 aircraft needed. Which in turn means no refurb of 787. Then at some point will be a sole Airbus fleet. Whilst possibly ordering a few more Neo or A350 AC

Also, Can see this is most likely decision driven by the major shareholder …
But also, more seats in UC surely would mean better dynamic pricing of reward seats .

I suspect it might be a split similar to AF A350 which can be 10 rows, then a further 4 rows. Wonder if they will do 4 retreat suites, similar to AF bigger seats in row 1 and row 10…
But since this is the A330 body, I suspect it would be perhaps:

Current A390:
Row 1-27 UC
45-51 or 45- 60 - Prem
Rest - Econ

For me, makes sense. More seats in UC/Prem that make more money. Less 787 aircraft needed. Which in turn means no refurb of 787. Then at some point will be a sole Airbus fleet. Whilst possibly ordering a few more Neo or A350 AC

Also, Can see this is most likely decision driven by the major shareholder …
But also, more seats in UC surely would mean better dynamic pricing of reward seats .

I agree with this analysis despite the fact I love the VS 787. It’s a workhorse and I’ve always thought they’d be made to get rid of it. But given the engine issues and managements drive for profitability, an all airbus fleet would make sense from a financial point of view.

The two aircraft are also nearly identical from a performance point of view and fulfil VS’s route requirements perfectly.

Was perhaps a bad idea extending those seven lease on the 787 given the Trent 1000 issues. Another A330 config must be for JFK specific config if it happens.

Was perhaps a bad idea extending those seven lease on the 787 given the Trent 1000 issues. Another A330 config must be for JFK specific config if it happens.

Not necessarily just for JFK. UC have heavy routes, like LAX with 3 daily flights etc. If it’s to replace the 787, due to engine issues, and overall Airbus fleet, whilst not increasing their order for Neo or A350, they will utilise this new configuration (if it happens) to replace multiple flights… like LAX = 2xA350 daily + 1 787, I could we that being 1xA350 and 1xNeo new configuration, and then you have an extra A350 they can put on a new another route to replace 787 route

When's the next A339 due I thought it was December.

[mitchja]

When's the next A339 due I thought it was December.

The next A339 MSN2077 (will be G-VPIE, Cherry Bakewell) had it's first test flight Dec 11th so not too far away now.