Virgin Atlantic and ANA are extending their combination fares, enabling customers to combine ANA and Virgin Atlantic flights between London and Asia in the same round-trip, effective April 1st.

Furthermore, the range of special joint round the world (RTW) fares

utilising the networks of both carriers, that were announced by Virgin

Atlantic and ANA in September 2006, will be extended to cover premium

economy in addition to the currently available business and economy.

p>Willy Boulter, Virgin Atlantic’s Group Commercial Director, said:

 

    “We are delighted to be signing an alliance agreement with ANA which

    will enable both carriers to start working closer together in many

    areas of the business, including airport and inflight services, and

    hope that this will pave the way to a possible codeshare agreement

    in the future.”

 

Mr Katsuhiko Kitabayashi, ANA’s Executive Vice President for International

Relations added:

 

    “Once again, ANA and Virgin Atlantic are demonstrating the positive

    benefits to customers that an alliance agreement of this kind can

    bring.  We are competitors but work together where possible to

    strengthen what both carriers have to offer.  We look forward to

    exploring other ways to work together and providing our customers

    with greater choice and convenience.”

 

Virgin and ANA first began working together in June 2003, when they tied-up

Frequent Flyer Programmes, allowing ANA and Virgin Atlantic passengers to

accrue and redeem mileage on each other’s network.

 

In addition to combination and RTW fares, since September last year, the

carriers have also offered Circle Asia fares, which give greater travel

options and choices to passengers travelling from the UK through common

gateways in Asia.  All fare types are subject to mileage accrual and

redemption.

 

In a further move designed to provide even more convenience and simplicity

of travel with greater security, Virgin Atlantic and ANA will finalise an

interline e-ticket agreement, allowing passengers to combine Virgin

Atlantic flights and ANA flights in the same e-ticket.

 

To commemorate the new alliance agreement, from April 1 to May 31, Virgin

Atlantic and ANA will be host an on-line prize draw, in which 20 pairs of

economy class London-Tokyo round-trip combination fare tickets can be won.

Details may be found on the website of both carriers.

 

Virgin Atlantic currently flies daily between London Heathrow and Tokyo

Narita. Flight VS900 departs Heathrow at 13.00 arriving into Narita at

09.00 the following day.  The return flight VS901 departs Narita at 11.00

arriving into Heathrow at 15.30 the same day.
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