Virgin Atlantic (VS, London Heathrow) is set to announce an order for up to twelve A350-1000s Bloomberg news has reported. Quoting informed sources, the news wire said the UK carrier is expected to acquire nine of the twinjets from Airbus (AIB, Toulouse Blagnac) with the rest to be leased.
Virgin is currently studying its options insofar as B747-400 replacements are concerned. Both the A350 Family and the B777 Family of aircraft are under consideration with time a critical factor in its decision. Airline Executive Vice President, Commercial, Erik Varwijk, said last year that Virgin wants to add new jets to its fleet from late 2018/early 2019.
Virgin's longhaul fleet currently consists ten A330-300s (two of which are now in service for the now active Virgin Atlantic International (VGI, London Heathrow)), eleven A340-600s, ten B747-400s, and nine B787-9s. The carrier's fleet of A340-300s was retired from commercial service late last year with the A340-600's future currently under review.
