View Full Version : Virgin Atlantic Classics
Ryanair
July 25, 2002, 06:21 AM
Rumour control has suggested that Virgins Classics, currently residing in a sand pit, are to be dug out and used later this year, with Virgin again?
Can/will anyone quash or uphold this rumour please?
There are at least five Classics - two are in service with Air Atlanta Icelandic three are parked in the desert and one at LHR.
Britannia_Boy
July 25, 2002, 08:17 AM
It may be that the Virgin management want to dig them out of the desert for use, but who is going to fly them? Almost all Virgin classic FE's have been snapped up by other operators, most pilots have moved on to better jobs also, so please don't tell us that the Virgin managers think that for 6 months all their ex-staff have been sitting around pining for their old jobs back, and will forgive them for the way they have been treated??
The truth is that there are 7 ex-VS -200s, 5 aircraft in Mojave and 2 in use by Air Atlanta.
bmibunny
July 26, 2002, 04:40 AM
Overheard at pprune
2 Classics will be back from the desert not sure which ones yet.
The present 747-400 fleet based at LGW will stay at LGW for the present future as will the LGW-MIA.
A340-600 comes online at the end of july
bmibaby
July 26, 2002, 03:26 PM
The A340-600s are likely to replace most of the 10 existing -300s. Possibly up to 3 -300s may be retained to allow limited route expansion. At the moment, I believe that 2 of the 3 stored Classics are being considered for use on bucket-and-spade routes for Virgin Holidays. As VAA no longer has the 742 on its AOC, a third-party operator would have to operate the aeroplanes on VAA's behalf. Where the crews would come from is another question, as most (but not all) of the Virgin ex-Classic crews have retrained or have left the company for pastures new - whether voluntarily or not.
Personally, I wouldn't put too much faith in this project coming to fruition, but you never know!
buzz146
July 27, 2002, 02:12 PM
Why bring the Classics back if you've got more 747-400s and A340 family planes entering the fleet.
And remember it's a 3-man flight deck crew, who do they think will staff those.
All i know is that 3 Air Atlanta planes are part of a sale lease back program with Virgin, with 1 based at MAN and 2 at either LGW or LHR.