Virgin Atlantic delays Airbus A330-300 Upper Class retrofit

Virgin Atlantic had embarked on the retrofit program of its Upper Class cabins on Airbus A330-300 aircrafts. This seems to be delayed now if media reports are to be considered. The news has however still not been made public by the airline officials.

Earlier, the retrofitting exercise of Upper Class on the airline’s fleet of 10 Airbus A330-300 aircrafts was to be completed in time by March end this year for the peak summer season. But this is yet to be completed. According to the reports, the retrofitting exercise will now be initiated during the lean winter months.

There is though some good news awaiting the travelers. Media reports recently said that Virgin Atlantic would be offering the new Upper Class cabins on leisure routes out of Manchester and London Gatwick by the end of March 2017. The routes from both London Gatwick and Manchester would be covering the Caribbean destinations, while Upper Class cabins would be offered to the airline’s customers booking business class flights from Manchester to San Francisco and Boston.

Virgin Atlantic operates flights out of London Heathrow to some of the most important business destinations. The news will rather disappoint those planning to travel to these destinations. The reports said that the Airbus A330-300 aircrafts to be flown on these routes will not provide Upper Class cabins before the months of September or October this year.

A spokesperson of Virgin Atlantic said that the airline will be offering retrofitted Upper Class cabins on routes such as Washington Dulles, New York JFK, Newark Liberty and Dubai being served from London Heathrow effective from September 1. The airline will also be offering Upper Class cabins to New York JFK and Atlanta from Manchester from this date itself.

Apart from this, the retrofitted Upper Class cabins will be offered on flights to New York JFK and Atlanta from London Heathrow starting from October 30. The airline has more plans in store for future as well. It has also indicated that it will start offering retrofitted A330 for once daily flight to Miami from London Heathrow effective from October 31. However, more changes in future are also possible.