Tokyo Haneda slot - How will Virgin Operate it? [CNS-HND flights ceased Feb '25]

[justinbrett]

That would make sense given I only just read the articles about the MAX delays.

I was aware of winglet variety but wasn’t aware that VA had any.

Max has serrated engine covers

 

[AviatorInsight]

What ETOPS is the VA 737-700 allowed?

Legacy -700s = 180min
ex KLM -700s = 60min due to only one cargo bottle fire extinguisher.

 

[bcworld]

...and the rear of the fuselage (top) on the MAX comes to a point, or is pointier than 737 NG (bottom)

 

[AIRwin]

Ah, that would make sense given I only just read the articles about the MAX delays.

I was aware of various winglet varieties but hadn’t realised that VA had gone down that modification route!

Having just flown a few MAXs in the US and seen many at various airports, it looked familiar.

Congrats on the 1000th post (of this thread)!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Rumor of the streets for many years contradicts that. They've done the leg work on larger aircraft and it's "paused" until the demand / requirements are there. (Hence commentary around returning A330's and B777's for a minimum 5 B787's)
Hence (in my opinion) they will use existing fleet to service markets, and one proven bring in the longer term fleet.

VA's future fleet is most likely:

737-MAX8 (on order)
737-MAX10 (on order)
787-X (paused)

737-700 (VARA happening ATM)
A32X (VARA already done)

Very odd.

Airlines and tourism operators begged for the end of covid restrictions because of unprecedented demand.

But were then surprised by unprecedented demand.

 

[AviatorInsight]

You can see the retrofit on the split scimitar coming off the bottom of the original winglet.

 

[SYD]

You can see the retrofit on the split scimitar coming off the bottom of the original winglet.

View attachment 328367

Yes, the MAX has a more homogenous(?) - for want of a better word - look to the winglet arrangements.

 

[MooTime]

Very odd.

Airlines and tourism operators begged for the end of covid restrictions because of unprecedented demand.

But were then surprised by unprecedented demand.

I guess both QF & VA have ordered more birds so have prepared in a way for extra demand, but takes time for delivery of goods, hence this thread what will VA do without delivery.

 

[twinaisle]

You can see the retrofit on the split scimitar coming off the bottom of the original winglet.

View attachment 328367

It's a complete new winglet... They don't just add the split scimitar it to the existing winglet.

 

[lovestotravel]

Rumor of the streets for many years contradicts that. They've done the leg work on larger aircraft and it's "paused" until the demand / requirements are there. (Hence commentary around returning A330's and B777's for a minimum 5 B787's)
Hence (in my opinion) they will use existing fleet to service markets, and one proven bring in the longer term fleet.

VA's future fleet is most likely:

737-MAX8 (on order)
737-MAX10 (on order)
787-X (paused)

737-700 (VARA happening ATM)
A32X (VARA already done)

While demand is very strong at the present, this is off ticket sales up to 11 months ago.

The economy is crashing and interest rates rising

Demand is already falling in forward bookings and given the USA market it well and truly saturated with USA carrier and the recent UA expansion, VA won't touch the USA.

India is/was a massive opportunity but with the recent Air India order of 787/777's they will expand at a rapid pace.

VA will just focus on domestic, which they do very well and short-medium haul international with 737 Max's

 

[Saab34]

Good point. If USA is hands off due to recent expansion, I doubt they would spend a whole heap of capex on introducing widebodies for one Haneda slot. Unless they get more Japan slots.

 

[Himeno]

Good point. If USA is hands off due to recent expansion, I doubt they would spend a whole heap of capex on introducing widebodies for one Haneda slot. Unless they get more Japan slots.

They don't need more Japan slots. Australia and Japan have open skies. They can fly to anywhere in Japan that they want. Except Haneda. An Australian airline could start flights to Osaka or Narita today if they wanted.

 

[encryptededdy]

They don't need more Japan slots. Australia and Japan have open skies. They can fly to anywhere in Japan that they want. Except Haneda. An Australian airline could start flights to Osaka or Narita today if they wanted.

Welcome back to AFF haven't seen you around in a while

 

[AviatorInsight]

It's a complete new winglet... They don't just add the split scimitar it to the existing winglet.

Obviously. But it’s still an original blended winglet with a modified design that includes the scimitar tip at the top and the ventral strake at the bottom.

Fun fact: the MAX has the AT Winglet.

 

[TheInsider]

FWIW the flight on the 28th of June has approx. 37 spare seats. 5 in J and 32 in Y. May not be 100% accurate.

 

[BNEFlyer]

The -700 Y class only are VARA as they're replacements for the F100.

They're not VARA like the A320's though. And they aren't used exclusively in WA either.

 

[HS-TQE]

There's still 2 73G's (all Y) still doing intra-state flying in Queensland as well with the odd BNE-SYD off-peak rotation thrown in.

The units in question are NBV and NJV, the later was just rotated into Queensland via VA471 a few days ago with VBZ just recently going offline for maintenance.

 

[HS-TQE]

FWIW the flight on the 28th of June has approx. 37 spare seats. 5 in J and 32 in Y. May not be 100% accurate.

It was reported up thread that some J seats for the CNS-HND flight on the 28th was recently released, so I would guess VA were planning to do a 'celebration' (ie seats blocked off for media/mangement) for the inaugural flight before the announced 737-8 MAX delays, leading to them to quietly cancel/defer the celebrations.

 

[Saab34]

They're not VARA like the A320's though. And they aren't used exclusively in WA either.

Yep. Because they are operated by mainline Virgin not VARA, they will make an unwanted appearance on many other markets vs previously thought. KLM still have some more -700s, I reckon they might opt for some more.

It’s a low cost carrier product that’s the issue. Seat and nothing else.

 

[BNEFlyer]

Yep. Because they are operated by mainline Virgin not VARA, they will make an unwanted appearance on many other markets vs previously thought. KLM still have some more -700s, I reckon they might opt for some more.

It’s a low cost carrier product that’s the issue. Seat and nothing else.

They often do BNE-PER/ADL/CBR/MEL flights.