Virgin Atlantic has once again deferred buying the A380 super jumbo planes it put dibs on over 10 years ago, and will replace its remaining 747s with A350-1000s instead.
The A350-1000, which will fly for the first time this September, will join the VA fleet starting in 2019, with 8 purchased and 4 on lease. Half will be in a 360-seat configuration for business routes, especially JFK-LHR, while the others will be in a 410-seat “leisure” mode for other routes. Compared to the 8 remaining 747s, Virgin will lose a few seats, but gain flexibility. Compared to the A380, if taken, it’s again more planes and more flexibility.
VA will remain a two-manufacturer airline, with a continuing purchase of Boeing’s 787-9; it already has 13 and has defined it as one of its flagships for the future. Other aircraft in the fleet include the A330; it and the 787 fill a niche for mid-size flights. Virgin also has 4-engine A340s in its fleet, but they may be the next phase-out candidate.
