Virgin plane change

[sophiepop]

Does anyone know if the Orlando route is getting the new planes?

When we book our seats we want to be away from the galley if possible but obviously if the plane changes it could affect this.

Also, is there any more info about the new Virgin lounge opening at Manchester T2?

Thanks

[Wigan Lass]

Are you talking about from Manchester?

If so, then no, not this year or next. They will still be using the 747s for a while yet. They use them for New York and Atlanta too. I think more 747s have been despatched to Manchester as the fleet is replaced at Heathrow and Gatwick

[sophiepop]

Thanks for that, it is a Manchester flight

[ManCity]

VA has ordered 8 A350-1000 planes, with 4 more to be leased. A VA blog a couple of days ago has photos of the first painted in VA colours (G-VPOP Mama Mia) which is in flight testing, so delivery to VA will be very soon now. The next two (G-VLUX and G-VPRD) are unpainted and just starting flight testing. The 4th (G-VJAM) is in final assembly. They are supposed to be going to LHR for the New York routes, with inaugural flight in August, but VA hasn't announced the flight numbers or dates yet - so a lot of people are going to have a plane change very soon!

There is a A350 Production List online. These first 4 planes have manufacturer's numbers 274/298/219/336. Planes up to 364 are in final assembly, number 373 has parts arriving. The next 4 planes for VA are on the list as numbers 415/426/492/511, so the first two might start production later this year, with delivery (guessing) in mid-2020. VA has not announced any details yet as to which flights will be allocated these new planes or when or whether LGW or MAN gets them first. Nor have released the seat configuration - rumours are that they will have fewer UC and more EC seats than the LHR ones. Don't expect firm news until much nearer the time, but do expect plane changes from, say, mid-2020 to 2021 as the A350 are phased in.

Manchester Airport's twitter today has an announcement tomorrow night - it may or may not be the news you are waiting for.

Also, could VA be expanding their MAN operation when they rebrand Flybe as Virgin and starting integrating the operations? If their bid for TC long haul flights is successful, then I might expect the operations (particularly at MAN) to be combined and rationalised, which would change their plans. Just have to be patient and wait and see!

[sophiepop]

Thanks, I’ll go and follow it on Twitter

[disneymadmom]

We had a talk from Virgin yesterday at work and they confirmed the new planes will start to be operational in September and will be on the west coast USA routes.
747s in play for Gatwick/Manchester Orlando routes until 2021