The first A340-200 for the French Air Force

…It was my belief expansion was going to be focused around launching long-haul services from other European bases…

AFAIK that is not the plan

Is this about the rumours that Virgin will be basing -300s at SYD and fly to destination in the States such as LAS or LAX (i forger which the rumour is)

Would be interesting if this came to fruition, with Virgin poaching yet more customers from Qantas, what seems to be their favourite past time. It was my belief expansion was going to be focused around launching long-haul services from other European bases stating that they are well known in the States already, then again they could use this advantage in Australia with Pacific/Virgin Blue feeding in.

Shame though, i’d rather Virgin energies were focused in Britain, but i’m gonna think that

Yes 300’s. I have my suspicions about what is planned for them but I think I’d better wait and see before saying.

Peter, it was never a plan from Virgin’s perspective. I have heard a rumour that a couple of Virgin 300’s might be based in SYD soon. Ties in with the fact that the SYD cabin crew base is expanding and there is a strong likelihood of it becoming a flightcrew base.

Are these A340-300’s we’re talking about? What routes will they be flying?

I thought they where gonna get 2 ex Virgin Atlantic planes? Did this deal fall through?

Peter, it was never a plan from Virgin’s perspective. I have heard a rumour that a couple of Virgin 300’s might be based in SYD soon. Ties in with the fact that the SYD cabin crew base is expanding and there is a strong likelihood of it becoming a flightcrew base.

Flight International – 27/09/05 – French Air Force emerges as buyer of Austrian A340s

I thought they where gonna get 2 ex Virgin Atlantic planes? Did this deal fall through?

Here is the picture link at A.net:
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/1024501/M/

I think, it use to operate for Austrian Airlines (OE-LAH (cn 081)).

PARIS — The French Air Force is to lease two Airbus A340 commercial jets to transport troops over long distances, France’s Defense Ministry said Friday.

It is the first time the ministry has leased operational military equipment.

The annual cost will be EUR25.8 million, representing a saving of about 30% compared with a full ownership arrangement, the ministry said. The cost of the aircrew and maintenance will be shared equally between the Air Force and the lessors.

The five-year lease was arranged with airline TAP Air Portugal (TPA.YY) and financing was arranged through Ingepar, a financing unit of French financial institution Groupe Caisse d’Epargne (CCE.YY).

The air force will also have an option to eventually buy the four-engined Airbus jets, which will be delivered in July 2006 and January 2007.

The lease will be a stop-gap until the air force starts receiving tanker transport aircraft, planned for 2010.
-By David Pearson, Dow Jones Newswires; +33140171740; [email]david.pearson@dowjones.com[/email]