Günter Endres/LONDON
Virgin Atlantic is to boost its Airbus A320 fleet in the next few months to accommodate the expansion of its European scheduled and charter flights. Initial expansion is expected later this year, with the opening of the London Heathrow-Moscow service, followed by the start of the new Virgin Sun holiday operation from London and Manchester in the second quarter of next year.
Virgin Atlantic operates a single A320 on the London-Athens route, but has secured approval from the UK Civil Aviation Authority to start a service to Moscow. The route is already served by British Airways and Aeroflot Russian International Airlines.
Virgin will require at least two further aircraft for the Moscow service if it can reach an agreement with cash-starved Russian airline Transaero, which has also been given rights to serve the route. If an agreement is reached, Virgin will run some of the Russian airline's services and turn the approved four weekly flights to a daily frequency.
Discussions are in progress with Transaero, which previously served London through an agreement in which its passengers switched to Riga Airline flights at Riga to complete the trip to London Gatwick.
British Midland, however, has appealed against the CAA decision to award the route to Virgin, delaying the introduction of the service, which was scheduled for October.
Charter operator Virgin Sun is also stepping up recruitment for pilots to crew at least a further two A320s operating from Gatwick and Manchester airports. This figure could increase if the proposed deal with Sabre Airways to wet-lease its two Boeing 737-800s falls by the wayside. Virgin Atlantic declines to identify the source of the new aircraft, although the airline is talking to leasing companies.
Source: Flight International
