Andrew Doyle/LONDON
VIRGIN ATLANTIC Air-ways has outlined plans to phase out its fleet of six ageing Boeing 747 Classics by 2000, with the acquisition of a fresh batch of widebodied aircraft for delivery from mid-1998.
The UK carrier is looking to "-bring in aircraft over a two-year period to replace the Classic", says Conrad Clifford, Virgin's general manager, commercial. The airline is evaluating the Airbus A340-600, a higher-capacity derivative of the A340-300, and the Boeing 777-300 as replacements for its five 747-200s and one -100, says Clifford.
The yet-to-be-launched A340-600 would provide around 30% more seating capacity and improved unit costs than Virgin's existing A340-300s, and retain a high degree of systems and cockpit commonality.
Virgin already holds options on two 777s for delivery in 1998, but believes that the stretched -300 version will not initially offer sufficient range for routes such as London-Los Angeles. Meanwhile, Virgin will take delivery of two additional 747-400s and three A340-300s in 1997, as it continues to expand its network. The leased 747-400s will be delivered in February and June, and deployed on routes from London to New York Kennedy and San Francisco, says Clifford, bringing the total -400 fleet to five.
Airbus will deliver to Virgin in April two ex-developmental 1992-build A340-300s, which had previously been earmarked for Caribbean carrier BWIA.
Together with one new-build aircraft for delivery the following month, these will allow Virgin to increase its recently launched Johannesburg service to six times a week, cater for new services between London Gatwick and Newark and Los Angeles, and replace a Boeing 767-300ER, leased from Martinair, on the Manchester-Orlando route.
Source: Flight International
