Aircraft Withdrawal
 

According to wikipedia, with its various sources, VS is withdrawing its 4 A343s in late 2012-2013 and 4 of its A346s from Oct 2012 onwards. But Virgin don't have any aircraft orders coming soon enough to replace them
Before anyone mentions A333s, the other 3 that haven't been delivered yet are apparently supposed to be leased out to China Airlines. And in my knowledge of mathematics 2 < 8.
To confuse me further the China Airlines page only claims that 2 are on order. I'm not sure whether that's due to the VS page not being updated recently enough.

Anyone know more about what VS are planning?

The 330s start arriving next month or April (I can't remember which).

But aren't they being leased out to China Airlines?

They're being accepted by VS from March/April.

Will SYD-HKG-LHR vv change to a A330 or will they keep the A346 for this route?

I don't think a 333 has the range for the HKG-LHR sector.

The A333 has just enough range (10,830km fully loaded, LHR-HKG is 9639km) of course that does not mean that it would be suitable to operate the route.

It's more problematic going in the opposite direction (although maybe it could still just make it).

Edit: Actually China Southern seems to use an A333 from Guangzhou so maybe it would be possible although I can't see why it would be necessary unless VS reinstated the second service to HGK.

The 333 will not operate the HKG route as it has not Pilot crew rest the the flight crew would not have enough hours for it to be a 2 man operation 0- unless they reserved some UPPER seats for them but I doubt it.

http://www.breakingtravelnews.com/ne...ew-jobs-in-uk/

Here it says that they are due to take delivery of seven aircraft this year?
Anyone know more, cos the wikipedia page definitely needs to be corrected.

From CAN to where in Europe? I know that this summer they're starting the service to LHR with an A332, but that has less passengers and longer range.

Wikipedia is hardly ever accurate. There are 5 new build 333's to come to VS.

Then 2 are lased out to China Airlines and 1 to Ryan International.

What mix of those make up the 7 is anyones guess.

I think Ryan international have already received theirs and China Airlines are yet to receive theirs. So I would guess that out of the 7 to be received 5 are destined for VS and 2 for China Airlines?

China Airlines received 2 on short term lease from VS last year.

Any sources for me to put for the wikipedia edit?