Virgin Atlantic-2
Jet Airways also had substanial volumes on their own scissors hub at BRU but again, lost money, and they've since gone bust. Classic example of connections being done at a loss would be the once great British Midland who became the ***** of every STAR ALLIANCE codeshare carrier possible and still couldn't make real money.
MAN is not a natural hub, it lacks an anchor network carrier, (not a criticism of MAG). So any Pakistan/Indian traffic VS could feed onto it's US services would be arguably cannibalising their own LHR base. I think there's scope for a point to point holiday network to LAS/BOS/LAX or SFO in summer but not sure that'd scale up to year round, could be done with one based aircraft, 2 x LAS, 2 x BOS, 2 x LAX/SFO?
MAN is not a natural hub, it lacks an anchor network carrier, (not a criticism of MAG). So any Pakistan/Indian traffic VS could feed onto it's US services would be arguably cannibalising their own LHR base. I think there's scope for a point to point holiday network to LAS/BOS/LAX or SFO in summer but not sure that'd scale up to year round, could be done with one based aircraft, 2 x LAS, 2 x BOS, 2 x LAX/SFO?
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Virgin also said today no return to Gatwick 2023 to 2025 but new routes from Heathrow in 2023. I wonder where the slots will be coming from. They recently said they couldn’t expand at Manchester owing to lack of pilots but can at Heathrow! Also in 2021 they said they may need to use Gatwick slots, as they will have too many aircraft for just their Heathrow slots! What does one believe?
Virgin also said today no return to Gatwick 2023 to 2025 but new routes from Heathrow in 2023. I wonder where the slots will be coming from. They recently said they couldn’t expand at Manchester owing to lack of pilots but can at Heathrow! Also in 2021 they said they may need to use Gatwick slots, as they will have too many aircraft for just their Heathrow slots! What does one believe?
With 14 A339s coming and 3 A359s, how many of the A333 are staying?
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I think Weiss said that once all of the A339s have been delivered the fleet will be 10% larger.
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Bloomberg specifically mentioned Shanghai is staying. Apparently it’s profitable (although it’s only once a week at the moment isn’t it?) and with the Skyteam membership it will link with China Eastern’s hub.
Virgin operated Shanghai ended cargo ops in March, and China Eastern also fly LHR-PVG. So for Virgin, it may HAVE BEEN profitable pre COVID and with cargo only, but I don't see how it becomes profitable in the medium term with China still chasing zero COVID. Is there room for MU and VS and BA? Makes more sense for MU to be the Skyteam option IMHO.
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VS tend to leave routes when they can't make them work, but if it like Mumbai they will leave some kit there and come back if. They have left Mumbai twice and come back when the market is right.
HKG has changed dramatically and there probably isn't room for CX, BA and VS.
HKG has changed dramatically and there probably isn't room for CX, BA and VS.
Virgin's first A339 (G-VJAZ) is on its first revenue flight this evening, LHR-BOS.
Bearing in mind the Neo's greater range than the A333's they are replacing, was wondering whether they will be deployed on some longer routes (which the A333's dont see) such as LAX, SFO, SEA, JNB etc?
Bearing in mind the Neo's greater range than the A333's they are replacing, was wondering whether they will be deployed on some longer routes (which the A333's dont see) such as LAX, SFO, SEA, JNB etc?
New routes-Maldives and Turks and Caicos
www.simpleflying.com/virgin-atlantic-maldives-turks-caicos-flights-2023/
Virgin Atlantic are to start flights between LHR, London Heathrow and MLE, Male, Maldives and PLS, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos.
London Heathrow to MLE Male, Maldives commences 22 October 2023 three weekly seasonal Boeing 787-9.
London Heathrow to PLS Providenciales, Turks and Caicos commences November 15 2023 twice weekly year round Boeing 787-9.
When Virgin Atlantic recently announced that they were planning on obtaining new slots and announce new destinations from London Heathrow I wasn't expecting these two. I wonder if Virgin Atlantic will shortly announce the much speculated route from LHR, London Heathrow to ICN, Seoul Incheon, Korea.
Virgin Atlantic are to start flights between LHR, London Heathrow and MLE, Male, Maldives and PLS, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos.
London Heathrow to MLE Male, Maldives commences 22 October 2023 three weekly seasonal Boeing 787-9.
London Heathrow to PLS Providenciales, Turks and Caicos commences November 15 2023 twice weekly year round Boeing 787-9.
When Virgin Atlantic recently announced that they were planning on obtaining new slots and announce new destinations from London Heathrow I wasn't expecting these two. I wonder if Virgin Atlantic will shortly announce the much speculated route from LHR, London Heathrow to ICN, Seoul Incheon, Korea.
www.simpleflying.com/virgin-atlantic-maldives-turks-caicos-flights-2023/
Virgin Atlantic are to start flights between LHR, London Heathrow and MLE, Male, Maldives and PLS, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos.
London Heathrow to MLE Male, Maldives commences 22 October 2023 three weekly seasonal Boeing 787-9.
London Heathrow to PLS Providenciales, Turks and Caicos commences November 15 2023 twice weekly year round Boeing 787-9.
When Virgin Atlantic recently announced that they were planning on obtaining new slots and announce new destinations from London Heathrow I wasn't expecting these two. I wonder if Virgin Atlantic will shortly announce the much speculated route from LHR, London Heathrow to ICN, Seoul Incheon, Korea.
Virgin Atlantic are to start flights between LHR, London Heathrow and MLE, Male, Maldives and PLS, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos.
London Heathrow to MLE Male, Maldives commences 22 October 2023 three weekly seasonal Boeing 787-9.
London Heathrow to PLS Providenciales, Turks and Caicos commences November 15 2023 twice weekly year round Boeing 787-9.
When Virgin Atlantic recently announced that they were planning on obtaining new slots and announce new destinations from London Heathrow I wasn't expecting these two. I wonder if Virgin Atlantic will shortly announce the much speculated route from LHR, London Heathrow to ICN, Seoul Incheon, Korea.
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Given the CMA’s recent comments about the Korean Air/Asiana merger I wonder if Virgin will hold off launching ICN in the hope of getting remedy slots for free?
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Virgin Atlantic-2
Virgin Atlantic will suspend all flights to Pakistan later this year:
https://corporate.virginatlantic.com...-pakistan.html
It's plausible that the route suspensions will allow Virgin to launch a new route, possibly to a SkyTeam hub.
https://corporate.virginatlantic.com...-pakistan.html
A Virgin Atlantic spokesperson said: “As we continue to ramp up our flying programme in 2023, we’ve taken the opportunity to review our entire network and decided to make a few changes."
“Following this review, it is with regret that we’ve taken the difficult decision to suspend our services between London Heathrow and Pakistan. Since commencing operations in December 2020, we have been proud to offer choice for customers travelling between London and Manchester in the UK, and Islamabad and Lahore in Pakistan. During that time, we have also provided important cargo capacity, as well as delivering vital medical supplies."
“This is not a decision we have taken lightly, and we’d like to apologise for any inconvenience caused. We would like to wholeheartedly thank everyone in Pakistan; our customers, teams, partners and the authorities for their support over the past two years.”
Virgin Atlantic will continue to operate services between London and Lahore until 1st May and between London and Islamabad until 9th July.
“Following this review, it is with regret that we’ve taken the difficult decision to suspend our services between London Heathrow and Pakistan. Since commencing operations in December 2020, we have been proud to offer choice for customers travelling between London and Manchester in the UK, and Islamabad and Lahore in Pakistan. During that time, we have also provided important cargo capacity, as well as delivering vital medical supplies."
“This is not a decision we have taken lightly, and we’d like to apologise for any inconvenience caused. We would like to wholeheartedly thank everyone in Pakistan; our customers, teams, partners and the authorities for their support over the past two years.”
Virgin Atlantic will continue to operate services between London and Lahore until 1st May and between London and Islamabad until 9th July.
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It’s no surprise really, they only started Pakistan because COVID meant they couldn’t fly anywhere else. Now the world has opened up again there are far more lucrative places to fly to. It’s perhaps more surprising they’ve lasted as long as they have.
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Folks, a question for those who know...does Virgin's IFE (A330 to Orlando) allow you to plug in a USB bluetooth dongle for a headset? I have a good headset for work, but needs to be driven off bluetooth. I suspect the USB ports are just power ports, rather than outputs for the IFE, but can't confirm from the website. Thanks!