Virgin Atlantic dedicates new A330neo to Queen Elizabeth II
In April Virgin Atlantic, a British carrier founded by Sir Richard Branson, one of the few in the world to have [...]
Virgin Atlantic
In the month of April Virgin Atlantic, a British carrier founded by Sir Richard Branson and one of the few in the world to have a fleet of only wide-body aircraft, will receive a new plane. The Airbus A330/900neo, the newest member of the A330 family, will be named after the memory of Queen Elizabeth II.
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The A330/900neo
Virgin Atlantic began this summer to receive its new models. The latest and most efficient of those produced by Airbus. In addition to being new, quieter and fuel-efficient than the older A330 currently in the fleet, the new model will be configured with the new business class cabins.
The name "Queen of the Skies" will be placed under one of Virgin Atlantic's famous flying mascots. These characters represent men and women of modern Britain.
The Queen of the skies
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Christened with the name Queen of the Skies, it is not to be confused with the nickname used for all 747s. Virgin also had 747s in its fleet, but with the outbreak of the pandemic it sent them all to the scrap heap.
It will not be a special livery that VS has thought of, but just the naming of the new aircraft. The brands chosen will also be special, as the initials that will accompany the aircraft as long as it remains in the fleet of the British company will be G-VEII.
A novel way of commemorating the recently deceased Queen, since Elizabeth II herself christened a Virgin Atlantic A340/600 precisely Queen of Skies in 2004.
Virgin Atlantic's three current Airbus A330-900neo aircraft. are named Billie Holiday, Space Oddity, and Eliza Doolittle. Virgin had previously dedicated a 747 to Lady D, who was the godmother of a VS fleet plane, one to the "fearless woman" aka founder Branson's mother, and one to the Emmeline Pankhurst activist.
