Virgin Atlantic to increase frequencies on flight to Belfast

Virgin Atlantic, a UK based airline that competes against British Airways, has recently released its summer 2018 schedule. Although its main base is located at London Heathrow and London Gatwick, Virgin Atlantic operates flights from othrr UK airports including Manchester and Belfast. The long-haul carrier operates a large amount of seasonal destinations including the route between Belfast and Orlando, which this year will have increased frequencies and will be operated by a 455 seater Boeing 747-400.

Running for 28 weeks during the summer period, the seasonal service which started in 2015, should create around 16,380 seats available on the route between Belfast and Orlando, according to our calculations. This will treble the amount of seats that are available compared to 2017. This will mark Virgin Atlantics' biggest ever season at Belfast International Airport. The Boeing 747-400 which is configured in a 3 class layout. In economy class, there will be 375 seats. The airline also offers premium economy on the aircraft, with 66 seats available for booking. Business class, or upper class as Virgin Atlantic call it, will have 14 seats in total. Every week, there will be one flight. However, between June 22 and July 13, Virgin Atlantic will be flying an additional weekly service, on Fridays to cope with the expected demand. The flights are actually in partnership with American major, Delta Airlines. United Airlines used to operate the Orlando to Belfast flight but has since dropped out of the market, leaving Virgin Atlantic as the sole operator of the route. The business developement director at Belfast International Airport, Uel Hoey said, "We are thrilled to announce this extensive growth in Virgin’s Florida programme from Belfast for Summer 2018, the only direct flights offering the iconic Virgin product from the island of Ireland. We are also pleased that Virgin, in partnership with Delta, have grasped the clear opportunity to capitalise upon the strong, established family market from Northern Ireland to Florida recently abandoned by United Airlines. We are confident that good value in the exchange rate and the convenience and uncongested experience of using Belfast International Airport as a departure point will prove increasingly popular next year for passengers right across the north of the island of Ireland."

Virgin Atlantic, formally Virgin Atlantic Airways Limited, currently has a fleet of 45 long haul aircraft with 14 on order. The Belfast to Orlando route will be operated by one of eight Boeing 747-400s that the carrier has in its fleet. Like many airlines, Virgin Atlantic has revealed plans to retire all of its remaining 747s by 2019, and will be replaced by the A350-1000. In addition to replacing the carriers ageing 747s, the new A350-1000s are also set to replace the carriers Airbus A340s.

Virgin Atlantic has endured wuite a, few issues recently. The airlines' new Boeing 787-9s have had major engine issues, forcing the carrier to ground a handful of their 787s as they wait for major engine maintenance from Rolls Royce who supply the Trent 1000 engines fitted on the British carriers' 787-9s. Following the bankruptcy of Air Berlin, Virgin Atlantic leased 3 Airbus A330-200s from the lessor who leased the aircraft to Air Berlin, to cover for its grounded 787-9s. Virgin Atlantic has leased these aircraft for 12 months in order to test the viability of the A330-200s in its fleet and will undoubtedly extend the leases if the aircraft perform per the airlines' intentions. In addition to leasing the A330-200s, Virgin Atlantic reinstated an Airbus A340-600 back into service after acquiring it from the lessor. This was to cover for another A340, that was returned to a different lessor after the end of the contract, that was not able to be extended. The aircraft that was reinstated is registered as G-VNAP

In other news, the previously delayed order of 6 Airbus A380s has officially been canceled. The airline placed the order in 2001, and continuously postponed deliverg until recently when it canceled the order altogether. When asked about the A380 order, the carrier said, 'Following a thorough review of our fleet we have taken the decision not to pursue our order for 6 Airbus A380s'.

Belfast has been an important destination for Virgin Atlantic, and since 2015 has operated the Belfast to Orlando route. Demand has increased dramatically since the launch, and the British carrier has had to increase its services. Although the Boeing 747-400 that currently operates the route is said to be retired, it is very likely that the airline will continue to operate the route in co-operation with Delta Airlines.