Virgin fuel saving trials.(International/Industry)

Airports International, January, 2007

Virgin Atlantic Airways announced on December 3, that it would start trialling some of its proposed fuel-saving measures at London/Heathrow and London/Gatwick later that month. Initially these will only involve its Boeing 747-400 aircraft. The idea is that they will be towed from their stands to a holding point close to the departure runway and engines will only be started up to ten minutes before take-off.

A longer trial is due to take place in the first quarter of 2007 and the airline says it has the full co-operation of airport operator BAA and the air traffic controller MATS. The carrier is also in discussions with airports at Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco with a view to performing similar tests.