Virgin Atlantic Airways today announced that it is to launch additional services to Boston, Washington and New York (Newark) from 1 June 2004 until 30 October to offer more capacity and choice to passengers over the peak summer period. The airline will operate three additional services per week to both Boston and Washington and an additional New York service will compliment our existing flights. The new services offer UK passengers more choice and flexibility to take advantage of the current favourable exchange rate.  All flights from the US will depart in the morning offering US passengers daylight services to the UK which are becoming increasingly popular.

Steve Ridgway, Chief Executive of Virgin Atlantic, said:

“Virgin Atlantic is pleased to announce these additional services over the summer period to Boston, Washington and New York - three of our most popular US routes.  These new services reflect the airline’s growing confidence in the North American market and increasing passenger demand for long haul travel.

“With our load factors on US routes at record highs compared to the last few years these new services will also help to satisfy recent increased demand for travel to the US. The load factors indicate that British tourists are taking advantage of not only the good fares available to the US, but also the favourable exchange rate.

“This is also great news for UK tourism. We estimate these new services will bring in around 15,000 additional US passengers, mainly tourists, into the UK over the summer.”

The additional services to Washington, VS055, will operate on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays departing from Heathrow at 20:10 and arrive into Washington 23:20. The return services, VS056 will depart Washington on Thursdays, Saturdays and Mondays at 07:25 and arrive into Heathrow at 19:30.

The additional services to Boston, VS053, will operate on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays departing from Heathrow at 20:10 and arrive into Boston 22:20. The return service, VS054, will depart Boston on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays at 08:00 and arrive into Heathrow at 19:30.

The additional Newark service will operate on Tuesdays out of the UK and Wednesdays back, bringing the VS017 and VS018 to a daily service. The current flights depart from Heathrow at 20:30 and arrive into Newark at 23:10. The return service departs from Newark at 08:20 and arrives into Heathrow at 20:00.  The additional service will depart Heathrow at 20:10 and arrive into Newark at 22:50.  The return, Wednesday service will depart Newark at 07:50 and arrives into Heathrow at 19:30.

Since it was founded in 1984, Virgin Atlantic Airways has become Britain’s second largest carrier serving the world’s major cities. Now based at both London’s Gatwick and Heathrow airports, it operates long haul services to twenty-two destinations world-wide as far apart as Las Vegas and Shanghai.  Virgin Atlantic currently has a fleet of 28 aircraft which includes thirteen 747s and nine A340-300s and six A340-600s.
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