Virgin Atlantic has just announced plans to launch a seasonal route, which will be the carrier’s shortest service. However, if you’re a passenger, you’re out of luck…
Continue reading: Virgin Atlantic Launching Cargo Flights To… Brussels?!?
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Interesting.. BRU is a major hub for pharmaceuticals so this could still be a cargo opportunity.
Now if it is indeed for slots, why would VA not also transport pax and have some extra connecting capacity for their TATL? I know it is more expensive to staff the flight, ground handling etc..
Also if they want to use their slot, why not go for another destination in Europe that has demand?
Maybe they got some temporary contract... but this is 100% a slot squatting move to preserve their slots at LHR rather than operate a more expensive, loss-making long haul route. United has in the past operated flights such as this in the winter from LHR to BRU and maybe somewhere else to preserve their slots. It's 100% just because they have no better long haul route at this time. Kind of sad, actually.
VS might have a few spare aircraft and slots to use as you suggested during the winter period. Looking at their W24/25 schedule seems MAN is reducing services and the BOS and SFO routes reduced as well.
https://www.virginatlanticcargo.com/content/dam/cargo/pdf/FLIGHTSCHEDULE.pdf
Seems a bit pointless, there are nine trains a day between Brussels and London, make more sense to use those.
Please VS, sell pax seats for these flights, would be great to fly a wide-body on this route.
Cargo only would not have to comply with the EU passenger rights rules. I'm not certain Virgin wants to go there.
If Virgin is highly cyclical, the difference in the number of aircraft it flies during low season versus high season might be substantial. And, the difference in the number of flight crews it needs during low season versus high season might be substantial. Does Virgin furlough unionized pilots in low season and risk a strike? Or, is running cargo (which might not be great) the better choice? Just a thought. And, without PAX, no EU PAX regulations.
Interesting... I remember being surprised to see a VS A35K take off late morning from Boston on Monday. It arrived close to midnight the night before and took off before noon the next day. Very strange timing for TATL flights. Anyone know anything about that flight?
They still have to comply with UK passenger rights rules for their existing passenger flights, which are largely identical to EU rules and have not been materially altered since the UK’s departure.
The New England Patriots played in London on Sunday. It was almost certainly their charter flight.
It’s a pity they don’t lend aircraft to BA which seems to have loads of aircraft problems and has cancelled routes such as LHR to KUL until next April
I think you answered your own question in the form of a blog post. They are clearly looking to game the slot but also at least find something useful in doing so.
They're protecting their LHR slots. I'm curious about those short cargo contracts.
My wonder is why they don't instead utilize the aircraft for other seasonal Southern Hemisphere destinations, or top up JNB or CPT for example.
Why not carry passengers as well though? Would the cost of cabin crew be higher than eventual revenue from fares? This would be a fun flight for avgeeks + possibly useful for connections to wider VS network.
Brexit Ffffed the ports up so what used to be a a simple ferry or shuttle journey is now tortuous and unpredictable. Sadly this makes sense for high value, time critical freight.
Depends how much extra it would cost them to run passengers on it as they would have to staff if the same as a long haul
It’s the last flight from LHR-PVG today so VS no longer have any Far Eastern services and another slot pair will need filling.
The route has been set up to protect the Tel Aviv slots. Shai Weiss, the Virgin CEO is an Israeli and wants to restart the Tel Aviv route at all costs
@Trolly Dolly, do you have any evidence of this, or is it just your supposition?
The Patriots have their own 767s, so it probably wasn't the team charter. Could have been a charter for family or fans though. https://simpleflying.com/new-england-patriots-private-jets/
I wonder if Virgin Atlantic could raise some revenue by making these cargo flights a "milk run" combo flights?