Virgin Sun Airlines

Last updated

Virgin Sun Airlines
Virgin Sun Airlines Logo, May 2000.svg
IATA ICAO Callsign
VSVIRVIRGIN
Founded1998 (1998)
Commenced operationsMay 1999 (1999-05)
Ceased operations31 October 2001 (2001-10-31)
Hubs
Fleet size4
Destinations17
HeadquartersThe Galleria, Crawley, West Sussex, England, United Kingdom [1]
Key people Richard Branson (chairman of the Virgin Group)

Virgin Sun Airlines, branded as Virgin Sun, was a British charter airline owned by the Virgin Group, formed in 1998. The airline's main destinations were the Mediterranean and the Canary Islands. Virgin Sun's main bases were Manchester Airport and London Gatwick Airport. [2]

Contents

History

Virgin Sun Airbus A320-200 landing at Corfu International Airport. Virgin Sun Airbus A320-214; G-VMED, June 2001 (8297179365).jpg
Virgin Sun Airbus A320-200 landing at Corfu International Airport.
A Virgin Sun Airbus A321-200 at Faro Airport. Virgin Sun Airbus A320 Aragao.jpg
A Virgin Sun Airbus A321-200 at Faro Airport.

Virgin Sun was created as a charter airline in May 1999, operating from Gatwick Airport and Manchester Airport Terminal 2, leasing two Airbus A320-200 aircraft. [3] After a successful launch and first summer season, Virgin Sun then received a third A320-200 and its first and only Airbus A321-200 the following year.

The airline was known for its ground breaking approach to inflight service being the first UK charter airline to ditch the traditional style meal for something more 'fun' in its first year of operation. After boarding all guests were offered a can of SeaBreeze cocktail (or a non-alcoholic version). After take off, Outbound guests were served with a meal of a bacon / veggie sausage sandwich on breakfast flights or hot dog / veggie sausage dog and potato wedges — prepared individually by the cabin crew with onions / sauces and an individual slice of chocolate gateau as a dessert. Inbound the meal was a jacket potato with a choice of 3 toppings and again a gateau dessert.[ citation needed ] Tea and coffee was served in coffee shop style disposable cups with the option of a 'squirty cream' topping.[ citation needed ] Downroute, customers were offered an ice lolly as they boarded.

In April 2001, two years after the airline commenced operations, Virgin Holidays decided to cease the operations of Virgin Sun, due to failing to make the expected profits. [4] After a buyer was sought for the airline, it was eventually sold to Air 2000 which became First Choice Airways and subsequently merged with Thomsonfly. [5] Virgin Sun ceased operations on 1 November 2001.

Two of the Airbus A320-200s were put into storage in Bristol, and the Airbus A321-200 (G-VKIS) and one of the Airbus A320-200s (G-VMED) were returned to the lessor, GECAS. One of the Airbus A320-200s (G-VKID) was sold on 21 June 2002 to the low-cost Swedish airline Goodjet, which is now defunct. The other Airbus A320-200 (G-VTAN) was eventually sold to Virgin Atlantic on 22 June 2004.

Fleet

During its three-year existence, Virgin Sun had operated the following aircraft: [6]

Virgin Sun Fleet
Aircraft Total Passengers
Airbus A320-200 3180
Airbus A321-200 1220

The airline featured prominently in the 2000 film Kevin and Perry Go Large . One of Virgin Sun's Airbus A320-200 aircraft (G-VMED) was seen landing at Alicante–Elche Miguel Hernández Airport doubling as Ibiza Airport.

Related Research Articles

Monarch Airlines, simply known as Monarch, was a British charter and scheduled airline founded by Bill Hodgson and Don Peacock and financed by the Swiss Sergio Mantegazza family. The company later became a low-cost airline in 2004 before abandoning charter flying completely. The airline's headquarters were based at London–Luton, and it had operating bases at Birmingham, Leeds/Bradford, London–Gatwick and Manchester.

British Midland Airways Limited was an airline with its head office in Donington Hall in Castle Donington, close to East Midlands Airport, in England, the United Kingdom. The airline flew to destinations in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, North America and Central Asia from its main hub at Heathrow Airport, where at its peak it held about 13% of all takeoff and landing slots and operated over 2,000 flights a week. BMI was a member of Star Alliance from 1 July 2000 until 20 April 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">GB Airways</span> Defunct British airline

GB Airways is a former British airline; prior to its sale, it was headquartered in 'The Beehive', a former terminal building, at City Place Gatwick, London Gatwick Airport in Crawley, West Sussex, England.

Hellas Jet was a charter airline based in Athens, Greece, operating services to Greece from destinations in Europe. Its main base was Athens International Airport. Hellas Jet was a licensed scheduled and charter carrier, holding a JAA AOC and a Line Maintenance Certificate under JAA/EASA Part 145, both approved by the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority. It ceased operations in 2010 due to economic difficulties. The repossession of two of their Airbus A320 aircraft, 87 and 88, was documented on Discovery channel TV programme Airplane Repo. The company slogan was More than a flight.

MyTravel Airways Limited was a British scheduled and charter airline with headquarters in Manchester, England. It operated worldwide holiday charter services mainly for its parent company, the MyTravel Group. The airline merged with Thomas Cook Airlines UK Limited in 2008 and was renamed Thomas Cook Airlines Limited.

SmartLynx Airlines Limited, previously LatCharter, is a Latvia-based ACMI, charter and cargo airline based in Mārupe, operating flights on wet lease out (ACMI), holiday charter flights, ad-hoc passenger charter and cargo flights across Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, Canada and the United States.

Kogalymavia, DBA Metrojet, was a Russian airline based in Kogalym, Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug. Its home base was at Kogalym International Airport, with the main hub at Domodedovo International Airport in Moscow. It suspended all operations in December 2015, two months after the terrorist attack on Flight 9268.

Nova Airlines AB, operating as Novair, was a Swedish airline headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden that operates on behalf of one of Sweden's largest travel agencies, Apollo. It its owned by Jet Nordic Group and operates charter flights mainly to the Mediterranean and the Canary Islands. Its main base and hub of operations is Stockholm Arlanda Airport, but the airline also operates from Oslo Airport, Copenhagen Airport, Gothenburg Landvetter Airport and Billund Airport. Novair closed on 9 October 2023.

Edelweiss Air AG is a Swiss leisure airline, charter airline and the sister company of Swiss International Air Lines. It operates flights to European and intercontinental destinations from its base at Zürich Airport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cyprus Turkish Airlines</span> Turkish Cypriot airline

Cyprus Turkish Airlines Limited was a Turkish Cypriot airline that served as the flag carrier for Northern Cyprus. Until its collapse in June 2010, Cyprus Turkish Airlines was the primary airline flying passengers to Northern Cyprus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Titan Airways</span> British charter airline

Titan Airways is a British charter airline founded in 1988 and based at London Stansted Airport. The carrier specialises in short-notice ACMI and wet lease operations as well as ad-hoc passenger and cargo charter services to tour operators, corporations, governments and the sports and entertainment sectors. The company holds a United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority Type A Operating Licence, permitting it to carry passengers, cargo and mail on aircraft with 20 or more seats.

Air UK Leisure was a British airline operating charter flights on behalf of its parent Air UK.

Leisure International Airways was a British charter airline which was established in 1987 and commenced operations in 1993. The company ceased operations in 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flying Colours (airline)</span>

Flying Colours was a UK charter airline that operated for 4 years between 1996 and 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nile Air</span> Egyptian airline

Nile Air is an Egyptian airline based at Cairo International Airport that operates scheduled services to destinations in Egypt and the Middle East, the Persian Gulf, Southern Europe, Asia and Africa. Nile Air is the largest private airline in Egypt and second only to Egyptair. It is a full-service carrier that operates scheduled services, using a fleet of Airbus A320-200s & Airbus A321-200s. In addition to operations from its hub at Cairo International Airport, the airline operates a smaller base from Alexandria's Borg El Arab Airport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Excalibur Airways</span>

Excalibur Airways was a charter airline based in England. It had its head office on the grounds of East Midlands Airport in Castle Donington, Leicestershire.

Cambodia Angkor Air is the national flag carrier airline of Cambodia, with its corporate headquarters and main hub in Phnom Penh. The company slogan is "Proudly Serve the Kingdom".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fly Hellas</span> Greek charter airline active 2010–2011

Fly Hellas was a privately owned charter airline. Its main base was Athens International Airport.

Nesma Airlines is an Egyptian airline which operates scheduled international regional flights as well as regional flights within Saudi Arabia. It operates as a full-service carrier on international flights.

Virgin Australia Regional Airlines is an Australian regional airline based in Perth, servicing key towns in the state of Western Australia. The airline also flies interstate to destinations such as Adelaide, Darwin, Melbourne and Alice Springs. Formerly known as Skywest, in April 2013 the airline was purchased by Virgin Australia Holdings as its new regional offshoot. On 21 April 2020, Virgin Australia Regional Airlines' parent company, Virgin Australia Holdings went into voluntary administration due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

References

  1. "World Airline Directory." Flight International . 3–9 April 2001. 98.
  2. Where Virgin Sun Flew.
  3. Virgin sun opening
  4. Richard Branson Grounds Virgin Sun
  5. Virgin Fleet sold
  6. "Virgin Sun Fleet". Archived from the original on 29 May 2009. Retrieved 22 February 2010.

Commons-logo.svg Media related to Virgin Sun Airlines at Wikimedia Commons