Virgin Holidays says that it will outline its plans in the coming weeks for new UK-based charter airline Virgin Sun. The company is believed to be finalising the acquisition of its own dedicated fleet of Airbus A320s to operate alongside aircraft wet-leased from Sabre Airways.
Both parties deny industry rumours that the deal agreed in June for Sabre to operate two Boeing 737-800s for Virgin Sun next summer has collapsed. Virgin claims that it has a deal to acquire airport slots from Sabre, but this is denied by the airline's managing director, Keith Newnham.
Meanwhile, Virgin Sun is seeking at least two A320s for introduction into service in 1999, with more aircraft possibly needed for the following year. The Airbus acquisition will provide commonality with the single leased A320 operated by Virgin Atlantic on its London-Athens service.
Source: Flight International
