Virgin Atlantic orders 10 new Airbus A330's

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

SRB announced today, the 25th Birthday of Virgin Atlantic, the ordering of 10 brand new Airbus A330-300's
five for delivery 2011, five 2012.

This is going to have an impact on Orlando flights, not yet sure, but either the A330's will fly the Orlando route, (as foiur will be leased) or the Heathrow 747's (with V-Port and more Upper class/pe seats) will be moved to Gatwick to replace the leased Alitalia aircraft.
The A330's will have in seat power in alls eats, updated V-port and wifi

http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20090622-704341.html

http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2009/06/22/ap6569923.html

 

[orangetiggs]

as soon as i read the title i thought yes we can get a heathrow 747 on the gatwick route!!!

So good to hear they will be here soon

 

[nemmie]

Hopefully this is fantastic news as

A- Vport! Seriously will make a HUGE difference.
and
B- Tons more seats in Upper which SHOULD (although I never like to assume anything where Virgin are concerned) mean more G reward class seats and much better fare availibilty.

Fingers crossed this will have a great impact on the LGW-MCO route.

 

[anthony2k7]

everyone seems to be of the opinion that LHR will get these new planes and LGW will get the 744 rejects from LHR.

I'm not sure that makes sense to have all those extra UC seats though on "B&S" routes.

We know there are many other planes on order including 787 and A380s (some may be cancelled though), but even so, most of them will be going to LHR.

So to me it makes sense for LGW to get these new planes with a more traditional "B&S" configuration on them.

 

[natalielongstaff]

great news V port is brilliant

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

everyone seems to be of the opinion that LHR will get these new planes and LGW will get the 744 rejects from LHR.

I'm not sure that makes sense to have all those extra UC seats though on "B&S" routes.

We know there are many other planes on order including 787 and A380s (some may be cancelled though), but even so, most of them will be going to LHR.

So to me it makes sense for LGW to get these new planes with a more traditional "B&S" configuration on them.

It will all come down to cost.
Last time they had to spend the money to bring the Gatwick UC suites in, this time will they actually reconfigure to a gatwick (I.e. more economy seats) for such a short period of time? Possibly three years?