Virgin Atlantic is giving its 747-400 aircraft operating out of Gatwick and Manchester a £50 million overhaul.

The refurbishment, which forms part its recently announced £100m product investment, is expected to begin in May and be completed by October 2012.

New seats will be installed in economy and Premium economy and a new IFE system will be implemented in all three cabins.

300 hours of content will be available via a touch screen handset that allows passengers to multi-task while in the air.

Passengers will also be use of their mobile phones on board to make phonecalls or send text messages or emails whilst in the air, for the first time.

By October, premium economy passengers flying to destinations including the Caribbean will have leather ergonomic seats with an increased pitch of 38-inche and lumbar support as well as an adjustable headrest with wings.

This will be the first major refurbishment of the 10-year-old 747s which operate Virgin’s holiday routes from Gatwick and Manchester.