Virgin Atlantic (VS, London Heathrow) has announced it retired its last A330-200, G-VLNM (msn 322), on May 12, 2022, as part of its transition to a new-generation fleet of A330-900s, B787-9s, and A350-1000s.
The British carrier operated four A330-200s, inducted in 2018, the ch-aviation fleets history module shows. All four were retired from scheduled revenue operations in March 2020, when the first global wave of the COVID-19 pandemic grounded the airline. They then continued to operate ferry and test flights around the United Kingdom only to eventually be put into storage or part-out. G-VMNK (msn 403) was ferried to Düsseldorf on August 19, 2020, G-VMIK (msn 432) to Knock on September 17, 2021, G-VWND (msn 476) also to Knock on February 14, 2022, and G-VLNM was the last to leave the fleet when it was ferried to Lourdes/Tarbes on May 12, Flightradar24 ADS-B data shows.
The aircraft were added by Virgin Atlantic as second-hand units following the collapse of Air Berlin (1991) (Berlin Tegel) and were of 2000-2002 vintage.
"While we're sad to see them go, this opens the door for the arrival of our younger and more efficient aircraft," Virgin Atlantic Airways said.
In terms of the previous-generation aircraft, the airline continues to operate ten A330-300s (including one placed on the AOC of Virgin Atlantic International (VGI, London Heathrow)), which are 10.6 years-old on average. Virgin Atlantic also operates seventeen B787-9s, nine A350-1000s (with three more on order from Airbus and two from Air Lease Corporation) and has a firm commitment for fifteen A330-900s (eight from Airbus and seven from lessors, including five from Air Lease Corporation).
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the airline retired all seven remaining B747-400s and three A340-600s.
