It’s an enormous day at Virgin Atlantic, because the airline will at this time start operations with its model new Airbus A330-900neo.
Virgin Atlantic Airbus A330-900neo order
In 2019, Virgin Atlantic positioned a agency order for 16 Airbus A330-900neos. This was a part of Virgin Atlantic’s fleet renewal plan, because the airline appears to modernize its fleet with gasoline environment friendly, decrease capability jets. The airline will take supply of all of those planes between 2022 and 2026.
The A330neo is the up to date model of the favored A330, and within the case of Virgin Atlantic, the airline will probably be totally changing its earlier technology A330s with new A330neos.
The A330-900neo is 13% extra gasoline and carbon environment friendly than the A330-300, with a 50% discount in airport noise contour. The A330-900neo additionally has a variety of seven,200nm, however that’s not likely wanted given the routes Virgin Atlantic will use the aircraft for.
For context on Virgin Atlantic’s total fleet:
- The airline has 17 Boeing 787-9s, that are a median of almost seven years outdated
- The airline has a complete of 14 Airbus A350-1000s on order, that are the service’s new flagship plane
- The airline has 10 Airbus A330-300s, that are a median of roughly 10 years outdated, and ought to be retired within the coming years
- Now the airline is taking supply of 16 Airbus A330-900neos, which can permit the service to additional modernize its fleet
Prior to now few years we’ve seen Virgin Atlantic retire its Boeing 747s and Airbus A340s. One spectacular statistic is that between 2014 and 2024, Virgin Atlantic can have improved gasoline environment friendly with its fleet by 32%. That’s fairly spectacular, and exhibits how a lot plane know-how has improved over time.
I do discover Virgin Atlantic’s resolution to have such a diversified fleet renewal to be a bit odd, because the airline will fly three totally different sorts of lengthy haul plane. It looks as if there can be a extra environment friendly strategy to go about that when it comes to upkeep, crew coaching, and scheduling. I think this comes all the way down to the airline merely ordering planes when the worth is true, and generally that’s how issues find yourself.
Virgin Atlantic A330-900neo enters service
On October 15, 2022, Virgin Atlantic took supply of its first Airbus A330-900neo. The aircraft was flown from Toulouse (TLS) to London (LHR) in a flight time of 93 minutes. It isn’t taking lengthy for the aircraft to enter service, as Virgin Atlantic’s A330-900neo will function its first flight throughout the Atlantic at this time. If you wish to observe the aircraft, it has the license plate G-VJAZ.
The plane sort will progressively be operated on extra routes over the approaching weeks, as Virgin Atlantic takes supply of extra of those planes. Particularly, you’ll be able to look forward to finding the A330-900neo on the next two routes initially:
- London Heathrow (LHR) to Boston (BOS) as of October 27, 2022
- London Heathrow (LHR) to Tampa (TPA) as of November 2, 2022
Virgin Atlantic A330-900neo cabins
Virgin Atlantic is introducing an all-new product on its Airbus A330-900neos. In enterprise class, we are able to anticipate 30 Higher Class (enterprise class) seats. They’re a personalized vantage XL product with privateness doorways, and are in a 1-2-1 configuration. Virgin Atlantic has a really related product to what three way partnership accomplice Delta has on its A330-900neos.
Virgin Atlantic can also be debuting the “Retreat Suite” on the A330-900neo, that are the 2 middle seats on the very entrance of the cabin. They creatively make the most of area that might in any other case be wasted, and they are often booked as much as 14 days prematurely for a premium of £200 one-way.
The A330-900neo additionally has a social space, named The Loft, obtainable to enterprise class passengers.
Backside line
Virgin Atlantic’s Airbus A330-900neo is getting into service as of at this time, initially flying between London and Boston. Over the approaching years, the airline ought to take supply of 16 of those jets, which will probably be used to refresh the A330 fleet.
This appears like a major enchancment over Virgin Atlantic’s outdated A330s, and I’m excited to expertise this aircraft myself.
What do you make of Virgin Atlantic including the A330neo to its fleet?
