Virgin Atlantic (VS, London Heathrow) has taken delivery of its first of twelve A350-1000s on order from Airbus (AIB, Toulouse Blagnac) after G-VLUX (msn 274) was positioned from Toulouse Blagnac to London Gatwick on Saturday, August 10.
The widebody jet features 335 seats with 44 in business, 56 in Premium Economy, 36 in Economy Plus, and 199 in Economy. According to the ch-aviation schedules module, it is due to make its longhaul debut on September 10 on the London Heathrow-New York JFK route.
"Our A350-1000s will first operate on flights between London Heathrow, New York JFK and Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson creating more capacity in Upper Class and more choice for customers," the airline said in a statement. "We’re providing a seamless customer journey across our joint venture, aligning closely with Delta Air Lines (DL, Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson) who introduced a three-cabin configuration with their first A350 in 2017."
Virgin Atlantic is expecting four A350-1000s to deliver this year with the remaining eight due over the course of 2020/21. By 2021, the airline expects to have phased out its remaining quadjets which currently number five A340-600s (due to leave in late October this year) and eight B747-400s.
Virgin Atlantic also operates four A330-200s, ten A330-300s, and sixteen B787-9s (two A330-200s and two -300s are operated by Virgin Atlantic International (VGI, London Heathrow)). The A330ceo will be replaced with fourteen A330-900s due to deliver from 2021 through to 2024.
