In with the new: Virgin Atlantic adds seven Airbus A330neo and retires its A330-300s
By 2028, Virgin Atlantic will operate a mixed fleet of 45 next-generation aircraft, with an average age of only 6.4 years. The seven new A330-900s will be delivered starting in 2027 and will be purchased directly from Airbus, increasing the number of owned aircraft in the fleet. This order adds to the initial A330neo order placed in 2019, making Virgin Atlantic the first UK airline to order this aircraft type. The total A330neo fleet will reach 19, consolidating its strategic partnership with Airbus.
Currently, Virgin Atlantic operates five A330-900s on routes to destinations such as New York, Boston, and Miami, with three more to be delivered this year and four by the end of 2026. As part of the fleet transformation, the airline plans to gradually retire its A330-300s starting in September 2024. These aircraft, which joined the fleet in 2011, will be replaced by the more efficient A330-900s, designed to be 13% more fuel and carbon-efficient.
In addition to the new aircraft, Virgin Atlantic has agreed to extend long-term leasing contracts with AerCap for seven Boeing 787-9s. These aircraft will continue to operate on various routes, including the Caribbean, North America, and India, as well as new routes to the Maldives and Bengaluru, India.
| Aircraft Type | July 2024 | Q1 2028 |
|---|---|---|
| A330-900 | 5 | 19 |
| A350-1000 | 12 | 12 |
| 787-9 | 17 | 14 |
| A330-300 | 10 | 0 |
Shai Weiss, CEO of Virgin Atlantic, commented, “Today we complete our multi-billion dollar fleet transformation with the purchase of seven additional A330-900s, which we know our customers and our staff love to fly. Operating the youngest fleet is the most effective tool to decarbonize long-haul aviation, and we are proud to operate one of the youngest, most fuel and carbon-efficient fleets across the Atlantic.”
Christian Scherer, Chief Commercial Officer of Airbus, added, “We are grateful for Virgin Atlantic’s decision to expand their A330neo fleet as part of their strategy to have the youngest fleet across the Atlantic. The A330neo not only offers an unbeatable cost per seat and exceptional passenger experience but also greatly enhances Virgin Atlantic’s fleet efficiency and contributes to their sustainability journey. We look forward to continuing this successful and smooth collaboration for many years.”
The A330neo features the Airspace cabin, offering passengers greater comfort, larger overhead compartments, new lighting systems, and onboard entertainment and connectivity systems. Powered by the latest-generation Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines, the A330-900 can fly 13,300 km non-stop. As of June 2024, the A330 family had accumulated 1,798 firm orders from over 130 customers worldwide, including 319 A330neos from 30 customers.
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