Virgin America receives first A321neo

KarelXWB · Thu Apr 20, 2017 9:12 am

Virgin America today took delivery of the first A321neo, becoming the first airline to operate the type.

Aircraft with registration N921VA will fly to BGR later today.

https://twitter.com/Airbus/status/854965774917742592

smi0006 · Thu Apr 20, 2017 9:32 am

Any cabin shots? Does the 321NEO have the same lockers and cabin lighting as the 350?

anshabhi · Thu Apr 20, 2017 9:32 am

engine type?

CanadaFair · Thu Apr 20, 2017 9:34 am

Why not the revised look titles? website has it since a couple of years but no new aircraft getting it?

TheGeordielad · Thu Apr 20, 2017 9:46 am

anshabhi wrote:
engine type?

CFMs

behramjee · Thu Apr 20, 2017 10:22 am

The configuration seems to be 8F + 18W + 159Y totaling 185 seats...not bad at all !

keesje · Thu Apr 20, 2017 10:24 am

PW grinding its teeth..

(I don't mean gear teeth..)

Polot · Thu Apr 20, 2017 10:39 am

CanadaFair wrote:
Why not the revised look titles? website has it since a couple of years but no new aircraft getting it?

What's the point? The VX livery will be gone in a few years.

BAeRJ100 · Thu Apr 20, 2017 10:42 am

Luisvalero wrote:
Random question... Imagine I'm flying LHR-BOS on Virgin Atlantic, Can I take a connection flight for example to SFO?
I Mean, do these Airlines work as the same airline or they are Completely different?

A lot of people seem to think that the Virgin-branded airlines are a single airline operating using different names. I've seen people suggest, for example, that VA could simply send their 737s to VS because "it's all the same airline". It is not the case. My way of explaining it to people is don't pay attention to the Virgin name, you need to treat them as different airlines. Whilst there are codeshares on certain flights between the 3, it's no different to codeshare agreements with other airlines, they don't all codeshare on every single one of each other's flights simply because they all carry the "Virgin" name.

Historically (before the sale of VX), the common link was Virgin Group owning some share of each, which even then some people misinterpret as meaning Richard Branson has control over each airline... In the case of VA for example, Virgin only owns 8% of it.

frigatebird · Thu Apr 20, 2017 10:45 am

TheGeordielad wrote:
anshabhi wrote:
engine type?

CFMs

Who will operate the first A321neo with PW engines? QR was supposed to be the one, but I can't see them accepting anything soon.

AirbusOnly · Thu Apr 20, 2017 10:48 am

Just left Hamburg (XFW) for Bangor:

https://www.flightradar24.com/VRD8921/d203cba

CanadaFair · Thu Apr 20, 2017 10:50 am

Polot wrote:
CanadaFair wrote:
Why not the revised look titles? website has it since a couple of years but no new aircraft getting it?

What's the point? The VX livery will be gone in a few years.

Its a long time and this is a brand new aircraft, the website is showing new title and fonts since two years, its the US not some backwardf society to whom such things are irrelevant and its Virgin brand not some third rate carrier.

Newbiepilot · Thu Apr 20, 2017 11:03 am

Thanks for sharing. Do we know when it will enter service and on what routes?

KarelXWB · Thu Apr 20, 2017 11:09 am

frigatebird wrote:
Who will operate the first A321neo with PW engines? QR was supposed to be the one, but I can't see them accepting anything soon.

China Southern will be the first P&W customer.

A321neo China Southern B-8367 by Tobias Gudat, on Flickr

frigatebird · Thu Apr 20, 2017 11:19 am

Thanks Karel. Nice looking bird indeed, looks ready to go! Suppose we'll have to wait for certification by the Chinese authorities though.

Would be nice if KL will go for the A321neo as well, I do believe they can use a larger narrowbody with slot restrictions looming for AMS. The 737MAX-9 or perhaps -10 (if launched) would probably be favorite though. I heard the RFP will be issued this year.

HtC · Thu Apr 20, 2017 12:55 pm

Here is a picture of the take off of the A321neo of Virgin

Bricktop · Thu Apr 20, 2017 1:02 pm

Newbiepilot wrote:
Thanks for sharing. Do we know when it will enter service and on what routes?

According to Flight Global, "Virgin America will put the aircraft into service on 31 May with a flight from San Francisco to Washington National."

petera380 · Thu Apr 20, 2017 1:05 pm

It will be in Alaska Airlines colors soon!

QueenoftheSkies · Thu Apr 20, 2017 1:09 pm

petera380 wrote:
It will be in Alaska Airlines colors soon!

Unfortunately

airbazar · Thu Apr 20, 2017 1:17 pm

BAeRJ100 wrote:
Historically (before the sale of VX), the common link was Virgin Group owning some share of each, which even then some people misinterpret as meaning Richard Branson has control over each airline... In the case of VA for example, Virgin only owns 8% of it.

It was a bit more complex than that. The "official" ownership was small only to get around the 25% foreign control rule but in reality there was never any doubt about who really owned and controlled the airline.

keesje · Thu Apr 20, 2017 1:18 pm

An Alaska NEO flying from SEA would be a cold day in hell event not so long ago, but things change. Hopefully they'll come up with something nice. http://cdn.airplane-pictures.net/images/uploaded-images/2013/5/24/291340.jpg

toxtethogrady · Thu Apr 20, 2017 1:24 pm

Yet AS is saying they're re-evaluating the Airbus fleet. "Hello, I must be going..."

KarelXWB · Thu Apr 20, 2017 1:27 pm

toxtethogrady wrote:
Yet AS is saying they're re-evaluating the Airbus fleet. "Hello, I must be going..."

The fleet won't disappear before 2024 at the earliest.

AS to fly VX A320s through 2024

FrancisBegbie · Thu Apr 20, 2017 1:55 pm

frigatebird wrote:
Would be nice if KL will go for the A321neo as well, I do believe they can use a larger narrowbody with slot restrictions looming for AMS. The 737MAX-9 or perhaps -10 (if launched) would probably be favorite though. I heard the RFP will be issued this year.

Your rumor triggered my curiosity. A quick look on airfleets.net (accuracy?) shows that 15 of the 738/9s are '99 to '01 built birds, so indeed time to start thinking about new ones. However, a large batch of 737s is from 2010/2011, so switching to A32X would mean running dual-fleets for years.

So, apart from the fact that KLM never seemed like the biggest Airbus fans to me, I'm putting my money on the 737MAX. (If it will be A32X, the French really have taken over KLM :stirthepot:

). 738MAX200 should be a good upgauge from current 738s. I'd expect the 73G to be toast and replaced by a mix of E(2)-195s and 73Max8.

Sorry for the offtopic!

gregn21 · Thu Apr 20, 2017 2:24 pm

Is there going to be a new interior? VX's cabins are getting a bit old at this point, especially F. Also odd that they didn't consider a premium trans on product.

toxtethogrady · Thu Apr 20, 2017 2:39 pm

KarelXWB wrote:
The fleet won't disappear before 2024 at the earliest.

That's only 7 years down the road. This is a new bird. I predict AS will find some reason to keep the A321s in the fleet.

KarelXWB · Thu Apr 20, 2017 2:46 pm

toxtethogrady wrote:
KarelXWB wrote:
The fleet won't disappear before 2024 at the earliest.

That's only 7 years down the road. This is a new bird. I predict AS will find some reason to keep the A321s in the fleet.

Also note that 2024 applies to the current A320ceo fleet. The NEO aircraft will probably stay much longer.

gatibosgru · Thu Apr 20, 2017 3:24 pm

The NEO looks so good with the huge engines!

TWA772LR · Thu Apr 20, 2017 3:43 pm

They misspelled Alaska.

f35 · Thu Apr 20, 2017 5:41 pm

TWA772LR wrote:
They misspelled Alaska.

They must have been colorblind.

jeffh747 · Thu Apr 20, 2017 6:17 pm

Any chance we will see it in MIA? I know with their A320s and A319s they fly them BGR-MIA after delivery to for cabin outfitting.

Anyways, looking forward to flying it next month! The A321 sure looks sharp in the VX livery. A true shame it won't look like that for long

Jeff

lee757 · Thu Apr 20, 2017 6:29 pm

QueenoftheSkies wrote:
petera380 wrote:
It will be in Alaska Airlines colors soon!

Unfortunately

+1 what was the point in buying it to just get rid of it. :roll:

F9Animal · Thu Apr 20, 2017 6:34 pm

I absolutely love the 321! It's just a sexy looking airplane. I am surprised they didn't paint this in Alaska colors. I will miss Virgin America, but I sure hope Alaska keeps the Airbus.

PlanesNTrains · Thu Apr 20, 2017 6:54 pm

lee757 wrote:
QueenoftheSkies wrote:
petera380 wrote:
It will be in Alaska Airlines colors soon!

Unfortunately

+1 what was the point in buying it to just get rid of it.

Seriously? Are we going to do this everytime there's a VX thread?

PlanesNTrains · Thu Apr 20, 2017 6:55 pm

F9Animal wrote:
I absolutely love the 321! It's just a sexy looking airplane. I am surprised they didn't paint this in Alaska colors. I will miss Virgin America, but I sure hope Alaska keeps the Airbus.

In one of the threads somebody - possibly EA CO AS - said that the first one or two A321s would be in the VX livery since they were already in process. Beyond that, I believe they'll be in Alaska colors. I think they'll look awesome in either.

jeffh747 · Thu Apr 20, 2017 7:04 pm

[code][/code]

jeffh747 wrote:
Any chance we will see it in MIA? I know with their A320s and A319s they fly them BGR-MIA after delivery to for cabin outfitting.

Anyways, looking forward to flying it next month! The A321 sure looks sharp in the VX livery. A true shame it won't look like that for long

Jeff

EDIT: It will be in MIA today. ETA around 6:15PM.

Arion640 · Thu Apr 20, 2017 7:34 pm

Which delivery route would this aircraft have taken?

TheGeordielad · Thu Apr 20, 2017 8:35 pm

Arion640 wrote:
Which delivery route would this aircraft have taken?

XFW-BGR-MIA

MBSDALHOU · Thu Apr 20, 2017 8:55 pm

I'll apologize in advance because I don't know how to quote text on this forum.
However the reason why the VX A321NEO isn't painted in Alaska livery is because it takes months - year to plan out the livery in conjunction with the manufacturer and marketing department and all other parties involved. And they just merged. Alaska is in the process of rebranding their own planes then it'll be time to start on the VX fleet.

mantistobogn · Thu Apr 20, 2017 10:31 pm

smi0006 wrote:
Any cabin shots? Does the 321NEO have the same lockers and cabin lighting as the 350?

The plane will be flown to Miami for Cabin fitting.

NameOmitted · Thu Apr 20, 2017 11:11 pm

toxtethogrady wrote:
KarelXWB wrote:
The fleet won't disappear before 2024 at the earliest.

That's only 7 years down the road. This is a new bird. I predict AS will find some reason to keep the A321s in the fleet.

4000 NMI out of ANC? I could come up with a few reasons to keep the A321... ANC-HEL to connect with BA's hub there? ANC-ICN to connect with KE there? ANC-HND to connect with JL?

Yeah, I did not claim they would be GOOD reasons, but a boy can dream.

dcajet · Thu Apr 20, 2017 11:18 pm

smi0006 wrote:
Any cabin shots? Does the 321NEO have the same lockers and cabin lighting as the 350?

Recent 321 CEO deliveries have the 350-like overhead bins and cabin lighting; saw them on LATAM a few weeks ago. So I am assuming that the NEOs gotta have them as well.

Galleytalk · Fri Apr 21, 2017 12:51 am

dcajet wrote:
smi0006 wrote:
Any cabin shots? Does the 321NEO have the same lockers and cabin lighting as the 350?

Recent 321 CEO deliveries have the 350-like overhead bins and cabin lighting; saw them on LATAM a few weeks ago. So I am assuming that the NEOs gotta have them as well.

Do you have pics of the LATAM ???

dcajet · Fri Apr 21, 2017 1:03 am

Galleytalk wrote:

Do you have pics of the LATAM ???

I personally did not take pictures however here is a short clip showing the new A350 style cabin on the LATAM most recently delivered A321 CEO.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5P-fkuyuK_Y

Iluvtofly · Fri Apr 21, 2017 2:02 am

Still a huge fan of the B757 over this ...... sorry just my opinion !

grbauc · Fri Apr 21, 2017 3:11 am

CanadaFair wrote:
Polot wrote:
CanadaFair wrote:
Why not the revised look titles? website has it since a couple of years but no new aircraft getting it?

What's the point? The VX livery will be gone in a few years.

Its a long time and this is a brand new aircraft, the website is showing new title and fonts since two years, its the US not some backwardf society to whom such things are irrelevant and its Virgin brand not some third rate carrier.

Im sorry I've been trying to figure out your English or what you were talking about. I get it now the VX font is virgin brands old font? and at least they should of updated it since its been two years since the virgins groups updated it? Thanks

grbauc · Fri Apr 21, 2017 3:16 am

lee757 wrote:
QueenoftheSkies wrote:
petera380 wrote:
It will be in Alaska Airlines colors soon!

Unfortunately

+1 what was the point in buying it to just get rid of it.

IF you don't get the Valuable gates space they bought at LAX and SFO and the rest of the package then you never will.

dc10lover · Fri Apr 21, 2017 3:30 am

toxtethogrady wrote:
KarelXWB wrote:
The fleet won't disappear before 2024 at the earliest.

That's only 7 years down the road. This is a new bird. I predict AS will find some reason to keep the A321s in the fleet.

And order even more A321's. :-)

milemaster · Fri Apr 21, 2017 8:25 am

PlanesNTrains wrote:
lee757 wrote:
QueenoftheSkies wrote:

Unfortunately

+1 what was the point in buying it to just get rid of it.

Seriously? Are we going to do this everytime there's a VX thread?

Is this your forum?

OA940 · Fri Apr 21, 2017 9:08 am

Well done!! My problem with this is that there wasn't much announced in the way of who will launch it. A lot of confusion overall. Also, since the Virgin America brand will be gone in 2 years, why not deliver it with the new Alaska interiors and livery?

Who is online

Popular Searches On Airliners.net