Virgin Atlantic has taken delivery of their first Airbus A330neo on lease from Air Lease Corporation (ALC). The carrier will become the first UK operator of the type, and has ordered 13 A330neos, with six on lease from ALC, and has plans for further expansion to 16.
On Monday (October 17, 2022), Airbus announced the delivery of a new Airbus A330neo to Virgin Atlantic on lease from Air Lease Corporation (ALC). The ferry flight from Toulouse to the UK was operated with a 35 percent sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). This is the first delivery of the type to Virgin Atlantic, which will become the UK’s first A330neo operator, and also the carrier's 50th Airbus aircraft. In total, Virgin Atlantic has ordered 13 A330neos, with six on lease from ALC, and the airline inteds to eventually expand the fleet of the type to 16. Virgin Atlantic pilots will benefit from fleet commonality between their existing nine Airbus A350s and the new A330neos. The carrier's new A330neo is configured for 262 passengers in three classes, including 32 Upper Class seats featuring privacy doors, as well as two of the carrier’s new Retreat Suites.
Virgin Atlantic's new A330neo also features the award-winning Airspace cabin, which offers an elevated level of comfort, ambience and design, along with more personal space, larger overhead bins, a new lighting system, the latest IFE systems with full connectivity. The most popular widebody aircraft ever, in terms of customers and routes, the Airbus A330 Family offers unrivalled flexibility in the medium and long-haul markets. The A330neo is powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines, which deliver lower operating costs per seat and 25 less fuel consumption and emissions versus previous generation competitor aircraft, as well as a reduced noise footprint. The highest bypass ratio of any Trent engine, the Trent 7000 is also certified to operate on a blend of 50 percent SAF.
Founded by entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson in 1984, Virgin Atlantic has brought innovation and the highest level of customer care to the airline industry. The carrier was voted Britain’s only Global Five Star Airline by APEX in 2021 for the fifth consecutive year. Headquartered in London, Virgin Atlantic employs 6,500 team members worldwide. The airline currently serves 27 destinations across four continents. Alongside shareholder and Joint Venture partner Delta Air Lines, Virgin Atlantic operates a leading network between the US and UK, with onward connections to over 200 cities around the world. By the end of 2022, Virgin Atlantic will operate an efficient and simplified fleet of 38 twin-engine aircraft, delivering a 10 percent savings compared to the aircraft they replace.
Source(s): Airbus, Virgin Atlantic