Virgin Atlantic fleet
{{Short description|List of Virgin Atlantic aircraft}}
{{use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}
Virgin Atlantic operates a fleet consisting exclusively of wide-body twinjet aircraft, mostly Airbus aircraft.
Current fleet
{{As of|2024|12}}, Virgin Atlantic operates an all-wide-body fleet composed of the following aircraft:{{cite web |url=https://siteapps.caa.co.uk/g-info/ |title=Aircraft register (G-INFO) |publisher=Civil Aviation Authority (United Kingdom) |access-date=3 September 2021}} Click Advanced Search and fill in registered owner as Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd{{cite web |url=https://flywith.virginatlantic.com/gb/en/on-the-flight/cabin-and-seats/meet-our-fleet.html |title=Our fleet |website=Virgin Atlantic |access-date=9 November 2019}}
| class="wikitable" style="border-collapse:collapse;text-align:center;margin:auto;"
|+ Virgin Atlantic fleet |
| rowspan="2"|Aircraft
! colspan="2" rowspan="2" |In service ! rowspan="2"|Orders ! colspan="5"|Passengers ! rowspan="2"|Notes |
|---|
| J
!W !Y !Total !Refs |
| Airbus A330-300
| colspan="2" |8 |— |31 |48 |185 |264 |To be retired and replaced by Airbus A330-900. |
| {{nowrap|Airbus A330-900}}
| colspan="2" |8 |11 |32 |46 |184 |262 |Replacing Airbus A330-300. |
| rowspan="2"|{{nowrap|Airbus A350-1000}}
|rowspan="2"|12 |7 | rowspan="2" |— |44 |56 |235 |335 |rowspan="2"| |
| 5
|16 |56 |325 |397 |
| Boeing 787-9
| colspan="2" |17 |— |31 |35 |192 |258 | |
| Total
! colspan="2" |45 !11 ! colspan="6" | |
{{multiple image
| align = center
| direction = horizontal
| width = 175
| image1 = G-VINE A330 Virgin Atlantic by Mark Harkin.jpg
| caption1 = Airbus A330-300
| image2 = Virgin Atlantic Airways G-VJAZ Airbus A330-9941neo London Heathrow Airport (LHR EGLL) (52677878748).jpg
| caption2 = Airbus A330-900
| image3 = Airbus A350-1041 ‘G-VJAM’ Virgin Atlantic.jpg
| caption3 = Airbus A350-1000
| image4 = Virgin Atlantic, G-VMAP, Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner (49596724563).jpg
| caption4 = Boeing 787-9
}}
Historical fleet
| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em auto; text-align:center"
|+ Virgin Atlantic historical fleet |
| Aircraft
!Total !Introduced !Retired !Notes !Ref |
|---|
| rowspan="2"|Airbus A320-200
|2 |1995 |2000 |1 leased for a London to Athens service; replaced by an A321-200 in 2000. |
| 4
|2013 |2015 |Leased from Aer Lingus for Little Red services. |
| Airbus A321-200
|1 |2000 |2001 |Named Hellenic Beauty leased for a London to Athens service to replace an A320-200. |{{cite journal|journal=Flight International|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/2000/2000%20-%201156.html|title=Marketplace|page=8|date=11 April 2000}}{{cite journal|journal=Flight International|title=Virgin Atlantic upgrades Athens service with introduction of A321|date=6 June 2000|page=12|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/2000/2000%20-%201687.html}} |
| Airbus A330-200
|4 |2018 |2022 |All four were refurbished former Air Berlin aircraft. |
| Airbus A340-300
|10 |1993 |2015 |Last commercial flight in April 2015. |
| Airbus A340-600
|20 |2002 |2020 |Launch customer. |
| Boeing 747-100
|1 |1990 |2000 |Originally Miami Maiden, then renamed Spirit of Sir Freddie. |
| Boeing 747-200B
|14 |1984 |2005 |G-VIRG was Virgin Atlantic's first aircraft. |
| Boeing 747-400
|13 |1994 |2020 |Early retirement due to the COVID-19 pandemic, last commercial flight 31 March 2020. |
| {{nowrap|Boeing 767-300ER}}
|1 |1996 |1997 |Wet-leased from Martinair due to aircraft shortage, serving Manchester-Orlando. |
{{multiple image
| align = center
| direction = horizontal
| width = 175
| image1 = Virgin Atlantic 747-123 Spirit of Sir Freddie G-VMIA by N94504.jpg
| caption1 = Boeing 747-100 Spirit of Sir Freddie marked with "No Way BA/AA" protest in 1997.
| image2 = Boeing_747-212B,_Virgin_Atlantic_Airways_AN0215797.jpg
| caption2 = Boeing 747-200 in 1994
| image3 = 202am - Virgin Atlantic Airbus A340-313X, G-VFAR@LHR,18.01.2003 - Flickr - Aero Icarus.jpg
| caption3 = Airbus A340-300 in 2003
| image4 = Virgin Atlantic Airbus A340-600 (4919717631).jpg
| caption4 = Airbus A340-600 in 2010
}}
Fleet development
Throughout the airline's history, Virgin Atlantic has operated a mix of widebody aircraft from Airbus and Boeing, as well as a limited number of narrowbody Airbus aircraft. Initially launching with a fleet of Boeing 747-200 aircraft in 1984, the airline's fleet continued to be composed entirely of four-engined widebody aircraft with the incorporation of a single Boeing 747-100 in 1990, the Airbus A340-300 in 1993, and the larger Boeing 747-400 in 1994. Between 1995 and 2000, the airline began operating the twin-engined Airbus A320 family and Boeing 767. In August 2002, Virgin Atlantic became the first airline to operate the larger Airbus A340-600 variant of the A340.{{Cite news|title=Virgin Atlantic's A340-600 – the Longest Plane in the World – Takes its First Commercial Flight|publisher=Pressreleasenetwork.com|date=5 August 2002|url=http://www.pressreleasenetwork.com/pr-2002/aug/mainpr2006.htm|access-date=3 August 2013| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101127141357/http://pressreleasenetwork.com/pr-2002/aug/mainpr2006.htm| archive-date= 27 November 2010 | url-status= live}} By 2005, the airline retired its Boeing 747-100 and 747-200 aircraft, retaining the 747-400s.{{cn|date=January 2025}}
On 27 September 2006, Richard Branson announced plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by cutting aircraft weight and fuel consumption. There was also an experiment in 2007 in partnership with Boeing to have aircraft towed to the runway to save fuel, as a potential change to future operational procedures.{{cite press release |url=http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/gb/allaboutus/pressoffice/pressreleases/news/pr240407a.jsp |title=Virgin Atlantic Makes Europe's Largest Single Order For Fuel-Efficient Boeing 787 Dreamlines |publisher=Virgin Atlantic |date=24 April 2007 |access-date=13 August 2011}} Virgin Atlantic also volunteered a Boeing 747 for a test of biofuels in February 2008. The aircraft flew without passengers from Heathrow to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, with 20% of the power for one engine provided by plant-based biofuel. Virgin Atlantic said that it expected to use algae-based biofuels in the future.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7261214.stm |work=BBC News |title= First biofuel flight touches down |date=24 February 2008 |access-date=24 February 2008}}
On 24 April 2007, Virgin Atlantic announced it had ordered the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, for a total of 15 Boeing 787-9s, with options on eight more.{{cite press release|url=https://boeing.mediaroom.com/2007-04-24-Boeing-and-Virgin-Atlantic-Announce-787-Order-Environmental-Partnership|title=Boeing and Virgin Atlantic Announce 787 Order, Environmental Partnership|work=Boeing|date=24 April 2007|access-date=3 September 2021}} The exercised options, later making for a total fleet of 17 Boeing 787-9s, were planned replace the Heathrow-based 747 fleet during 2015 and 2016. The 787s were due to be delivered in 2011, but by 2008 were expected to be delayed to at least 2013.{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/boeing-virgin/update-1-virgin-seeks-clarity-compensation-over-787-delays-idUSLB74854720081211|title=UPDATE 1-Virgin seeks clarity, compensation over 787 delays|last=Schuffam|first=Matthew|work=Reuters|date=11 December 2008|access-date=3 September 2021}} The following year on 22 June 2009, the airline announced an order for ten Airbus A330-300s, which would enter service initially in 2011, ahead of its delayed Boeing 787s.{{cite web|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/virgin-atlantic-orders-10-a330s/87423.article|title=Virgin Atlantic orders 10 A330s|last=Kaminski-Morrow|first=David|work=FlightGlobal|publisher=DVV Media Group|date=22 June 2009|access-date=3 September 2021}} The announcement of the orders and subsequent induction of the two aircraft types notably ended the airline's four-engined aircraft fleet composition, as the airline previously marketed itself with the "4 engines 4 long haul" slogan. While its first two Airbus A330-300s would operate on leisure-oriented routes following delivery in 2011,{{cite press release|url=https://www.airbus.com/newsroom/press-releases/en/2011/04/virgin-atlantic-becomes-twin-jet-operator-with-the-airbus-a330.html|title=Virgin Atlantic becomes twin jet operator with the Airbus A330|work=Airbus|date=5 April 2011|access-date=3 September 2021}} Virgin Atlantic would begin operating A330s on its premium routes from Heathrow in April 2012.{{cite web |url=http://www.routesonline.com/news/29/breaking-news/147103/virgin-atlantic-prepares-to-debut-a330-300-on-business-routes/ |title=Virgin Atlantic Prepares to Debut A330-300 |last=Maslen |first=Richard |date=11 April 2012 |website=Routesonline |access-date=3 August 2013}} Virgin Atlantic had also ordered six Airbus A380-800 aircraft, with options on a further six, delivery initially due in 2006, but the deliveries repeatedly deferred. The A380 order was officially cancelled in March 2018, with deposits transferred to A330 and A350 aircraft orders.{{cite web|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/virgin-cancels-long-dormant-a380-order-446556/|title=Virgin cancels long-dormant A380 order|last=Kaminski-Morrow|first=David|website=FlightGlobal|publisher=DVV Media Group|date=7 March 2018}}
In March 2013, Virgin Atlantic resumed operations of narrowbody Airbus A320 family aircraft, with four Airbus A320-200s wet-leased from Aer Lingus to operate short-haul, domestic services from its Heathrow hub.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-20657670 |title=Virgin to compete with BA's Scotland to Heathrow links |publisher=BBC News |date=10 December 2012 |access-date=1 January 2016}} The services were operated by Virgin Atlantic Little Red, a new subsidiary airline founded for the operation of the services. Due to low passenger numbers and significant financial losses, Virgin Atlantic Little Red's services were discontinued by September 2015, and Virgin Atlantic returned to wholly widebody aircraft operations.{{cite web | url=http://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/40567-virgin-atlantic-terminates-little-red-operations-outright | title=Virgin Atlantic terminates Little Red operations outright | work=ch-aviation |date=28 September 2015 | access-date=1 January 2016}}
Virgin Atlantic took delivery of its first Boeing 787-9 in October 2014, becoming the first European airline to fly the variant.{{cite news |last=Zhang |first=Benjamin |date=29 October 2014 |title=Check Out The New Boeing Dreamliner Richard Branson Just Launched with a Gospel Choir |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/richard-branson-new-virgin-atlantic-airways-boeing-787-9-dreamliner-2014-10?op=1?r=US |newspaper=Business Insider |access-date=13 November 2014 }} The older Airbus A340-300 aircraft were withdrawn from service in April 2015, as rising costs had made it less economical to run the type. Virgin Atlantic had begun to replace the A340-300 on routes with the two-engine A330-300 and 787-9. The final Virgin Atlantic A340-300 flight was made on 9 April, landing at Heathrow early on 10 April.{{cite web |url=http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/gb/allaboutus/ourfleet/a330.jsp |title=Introducing our brand new Airbus A330 |year=2010 |publisher=Virgin Atlantic |access-date=3 August 2013}} Eight of the larger Airbus A340-600s remained in service.
Branson announced in March 2016 that The Spaceship Company would partner with Boom Technology to develop supersonic jets capable of travelling between London and New York in three and a half hours. He confirmed that Virgin Atlantic had options on 10 of the aircraft.{{cite news|last1=Neate|first1=Rupert|title=Supersonic jet startup vows 'affordable' travel – if you have $5,000 to spare|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/mar/23/boom-supersonic-jet-travel-affordable-business-class|access-date=25 March 2016|work=The Guardian|date=23 March 2016}}{{cite news |last1=Rivers |first1=Martin |title=Supersonic Passenger Jet 'Boom' Attracts Investment From Japan Airlines |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/martinrivers/2017/12/05/supersonic-passenger-jet-boom-is-turning-japanese-after-jal-investment/ |work=Forbes |date=5 December 2017 |language=en |quote=Virgin Atlantic Airways is the only other known customer. It has pre-ordered 10 aircraft and plans to deploy them on transatlantic routes.}}
In July 2016, Virgin Atlantic announced an order for 12 Airbus A350-1000 aircraft, to eventually replace the ageing four-engined Boeing 747-400 and Airbus A340-600 fleets. The order consists of eight aircraft which will be purchased directly from Airbus, with a further four acquired through leasing companies. The 12 A350-1000s on order were split into two separate configurations, consisting of a business-oriented, premium-heavy configuration, and a leisure-oriented, economy-heavy configuration for select routes to the Caribbean, Las Vegas, and Orlando, Florida. This order would leave Virgin Atlantic with a streamlined fleet of Airbus A330s, A350s and Boeing 787 aircraft, leaving just two pilot pools and increasing cost efficiencies.{{Cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/flights/todayinthesky/2016/07/11/virgin-atlantic-fly-airbus-a350/86941172/|title=Virgin Atlantic buys Airbus A350 to be its 'future flagship'|last=Mutzabaugh|first=Ben|work=USA Today|date=2016-07-13|access-date=2018-05-19|language=en}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.virgin.com/news/virgin-atlantic-announces-order-new-airbus-350-1000|title=Virgin Atlantic announces order for new Airbus 350-1000|last=Clarkson|first=Natalie|date=12 July 2016|work=Virgin|access-date=2018-05-19|language=en}} The A350s feature three classes{{snd}}Economy (in a 3–3–3 layout), Premium (2–4–2) and Upper Class (1–2–1){{snd}} and its business-oriented configuration features a bar area known as The Loft, which was first introduced on the London to New York route in summer 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidphelan/2019/04/09/virgin-atlantic-reveals-stunning-new-design-for-its-boeing-a350/|title=Virgin Atlantic Reveals Stunning New Design For Its Airbus A350 Fleet|last=Phelan|first=David|website=Forbes|language=en|date=2019-04-10}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.virginatlantic.com/content/vaa/gb/en/blog/OurAircraft/the-airbus-a350-designed-with-love-built-for-the-future.html|title=The Airbus A350: Designed with love, built for the future|last=Gunner|first=Dave|website=Virgin Atlantic|date=2019-10-01|access-date=2021-09-03}} Its leisure-oriented A350 configuration was announced to feature a special area called The Booth, and was planned for launch on its London to Orlando route in December 2021,{{cite web|url=https://www.businesstraveller.com/business-travel/2021/09/02/virgin-atlantic-unveils-reconfigured-a350-for-leisure-markets/|title=Virgin Atlantic unveils reconfigured A350 for leisure markets|last=Caswell|first=Mark|website=Business Traveller|publisher=Panacea Media Limited|date=2 September 2021|access-date=3 September 2021}} but subsequently launched between London and Lagos instead.{{cn|date=January 2025}}
Due to engine fan-blade corrosion issues with the fleet of Boeing 787 aircraft, Virgin Atlantic chose to move some of its Manchester-based Boeing 747 and Airbus A330 aircraft to cover routes out of London Heathrow, with the airline temporarily parking some of its 787s while they wait for attention. In 2016, a spokesperson for Rolls-Royce, the manufacturer of the Trent 1000s, said the company "would start producing new corrosion-resistant fan blades by the start of 2017". In place of these aircraft, Virgin Atlantic leased four former Air Berlin A330-200 aircraft, which were announced to be based in Manchester. The A330-200 aircraft arrived in 2018, with full Virgin Atlantic liveries, but with former Air Berlin cabin products, with Virgin Atlantic's Premium Economy to be retrofitted at a later date. Virgin Atlantic said it would add "resilience" to its fleet after the engine issues with its 787s. It was thought these aircraft would be on initial 12-month leases, allowing them to assess their viability in the fleet, with the possibility of extending the leases further.{{cite web|url=http://www.airliners.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1380423&start=50|title=VS to lease 4 A332's to cover 789 downtime – Page 2 – Airliners.net|website=www.airliners.net|language=en-gb|access-date=2017-12-07}} The airline also chose to reinstate a former A340-600 aircraft G-VNAP into the fleet from storage, after purchase from its lessor, to cover for one A340 aircraft leaving the fleet, for which the lease was unable to be extended.{{cite web|url=https://www.planespotters.net/production-list/search?fleet=Virgin-Atlantic&manufacturer=Airbus&subtype=A340-600&fleetStatus=current|title=Production List Search|website=Planespotters.net|language=en|access-date=2017-12-07}} The A330-200s began to leave the fleet in late 2021, with the final A330-200 leaving the fleet in March 2022.{{cn|date=January 2025}}
On 17 June 2019, Virgin Atlantic announced an order for fourteen Airbus A330-900s, with options for an additional six aircraft, and delivery expected in September 2021.{{cite news |last1=Kaminski-Morrow |first1=David |title=PARIS: Virgin Atlantic signs for up to 20 A330-900s |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/paris-virgin-atlantic-signs-for-up-to-20-a330-900s-459004/ |work=FlightGlobal |publisher=DVV Media Group |date=17 June 2019}} In July 2019, Virgin Atlantic initially announced the retirement of its remaining Airbus A340-600s by November 2019, however in September 2019 had extended the A340-600's service to December 2019, while the airline's Boeing 787 aircraft undergo further repairs on their Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines.{{cite web|url=https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/80172-virgin-atlantic-to-end-a340-ops-in-early-4q19|title=Virgin Atlantic to end A340 ops in early 4Q19|url-access=subscription|website=ch-aviation|publisher=ch-aviation GmbH|date=26 July 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/81895-virgin-delays-a340-retirement-after-norwegian-incident|title=Virgin delays A340 retirement after Norwegian incident|website=ch-aviation|publisher=ch-aviation GmbH|date=26 September 2019|access-date=27 September 2019}} The retirement date for the A340-600 was subsequently postponed after several changes in date to May 2020, before the type was ultimately retired early on 9 March 2020, with the final scheduled A340-600 service taking place the day prior from Lagos to London Heathrow.{{cite web|url=https://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/287301/virgin-atlantic-further-modifies-a340-600-service-in-jan-2020/|title=Virgin Atlantic further modifies A340-600 service in Jan 2020|last=Liu|first=Jim|website=Routesonline|publisher=Informa Markets|date=4 November 2019|access-date=9 November 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/84224-uks-virgin-atlantic-to-retain-a340-600s-into-2020|title=UK's Virgin Atlantic to retain A340-600s into 2020|website=ch-aviation|publisher=ch-aviation GmbH|date=11 December 2019|access-date=23 December 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/289600/virgin-atlantic-s20-a340-600-operation-changes-as-of-15feb20/|title=Virgin Atlantic S20 A340-600 operation changes as of 15FEB20|last=Liu|first=Jim|website=Routesonline|publisher=Informa Markets|date=17 February 2020|access-date=29 February 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ifn.news/posts/virgin-atlantic-retires-airbus-a340-earlier-than-planned/|title=Virgin Atlantic retires Airbus A340 earlier than planned|last=Griffin|first=Matt|website=International Flight Network|date=10 March 2020|access-date=10 March 2020}}
The carrier took delivery of its first Airbus A350-1000 aircraft in August 2019.{{cite news | author = Matt Griffin | title = Virgin Atlantic receives first Airbus A350 | newspaper = International Flight Network | date = 10 August 2019 | url = https://www.ifn.news/posts/virgin-atlantic-receives-first-airbus-a350/ | access-date = 13 August 2019}} Though the A350s were intended to gradually replace its fleet of Boeing 747s over time, Virgin Atlantic announced the early retirement of its seven remaining Boeing 747-400 aircraft on 5 May 2020 as an impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and resultant loss in travel demand.{{cite press release|url=https://corporate.virginatlantic.com/gb/en/media/press-releases/Our-post-Covid19-future.html|title=Our post-Covid19 future|publisher=Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd.|date=5 May 2020|access-date=8 May 2020}} The airline had additionally deferred deliveries of its Airbus A330-900s to 2022, as well as its remaining Airbus A350-1000s until later in 2021.{{cite web|url=https://airinsight.com/virgin-atlantic-gets-the-plan-done-but-defers-a330neos-and-a350s/|title=Virgin Atlantic gets "The Plan" done, but defers A330neo's and A350s|last=Schuurman|first=Richard|website=AirInsight|date=14 July 2020|access-date=3 September 2021}} In December 2020, Virgin Atlantic sold and leased back two of their latest Boeing 787-9 aircraft to fund the repayment of a loan from Griffin Global Asset Management and to raise up to £70 million ($93 million) worth of funds.{{cn|date=June 2024}} In December 2021, the airline leased two additional Airbus A350-1000s with deliveries in 2023 and 2024, increasing its total order to 14 A350s.{{cite press release|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211214005493/en/Air-Lease-Corporation-Announces-Lease-Placement-of-Two-New-Airbus-A350-1000-Aircraft-with-Virgin-Atlantic|title=Air Lease Corporation Announces Lease Placement of Two New Airbus A350-1000 Aircraft with Virgin Atlantic|publisher=Business Wire|date=14 December 2021|access-date=26 December 2021}}
On 11 July 2022, Virgin Atlantic announced further details of its incoming Airbus A330-900 fleet, including its seating configuration, that it planned to receive up to sixteen of the type, indicating that two additional planes were ordered and that the first A330-900 would arrive during September 2022, with the aircraft launching on its London to Boston route during October 2022.{{cite web|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/airlines/virgin-atlantic-unveils-a330neo-cabin-and-names-boston-as-route-for-october-debut/149364.article|title=Virgin Atlantic unveils A330neo cabin and names Boston as route for October debut|last=Harper|first=Lewis|website=FlightGlobal|publisher=DVV Media Group|date=13 July 2022|access-date=14 July 2022}}