Virgin Atlantic News
Slight increase in profits at Virgin Atlantic in 2015
Virgin Atlantic has reported a profit before tax and exceptional items of £22.5 million for the year to December 31st. This represents an improvement of £10.1 million on the previous year’s result when adjusted for IFRS reporting and is driven by growth at both Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Holidays. Virgin Holidays performed strongly and made a substantial contribution to this result, with a profit before tax and exceptional items of £10.9 million, (a £5 million year on year improvement which accounts for almost half of the overall profit figure.)
Virgin Atlantic plane returns to Heathrow following ‘laser incident’
A Virgin Atlantic flight bound for New York has been forced to return to London Heathrow following a “laser beam incident”, according to the airline. The carrier reported a “medical issue with one of the pilots after a laser incident after take-off”, forcing the plane to make an unscheduled landing in London.
Thompson takes over sales leadership role at Virgin Atlantic
Virgin Atlantic has appointed Joe Thompson as senior vice president sales and distribution. Thompson will oversee Virgin Atlantic’s global sales and distribution operation, heading up a team of approximately 220 people and leading the airline’s relationships with corporate customers and distribution partners.
Virgin Atlantic takes guests on Upper Class flight with Windows 10
Virgin Atlantic is launching a new immersive digital experience with Microsoft to enable its customers to enjoy an Upper Class flight without leaving the ground. In collaboration with Microsoft, Virgin Atlantic has created ‘Ida’, an Immersive Digital Adventure built using a Windows 10 universal app, featuring specially created content that takes the viewer through a virtual Upper Class journey.
Arena Media wins Virgin Atlantic contract
Media planning and buying agency, Arena Media, has been appointed by Virgin Atlantic to handle its media account, following a seven-way competitive pitch over four months. The win will see Arena Media planning and buying across on and offline channels for the UK and handling PPC campaigns in the airline’s destination cities.
Delta Air Lines adds new trans-Atlantic routes to 2016 schedule
Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic Airways will strengthen their trans-Atlantic network next year with the introduction of new nonstop Delta services from London Heathrow to Salt Lake City and Edinburgh to New York-JFK. “For the second summer in a row, Delta will be launching new routes, that give customers more options when flying between the UK and the United States,” said Nat Pieper, Delta senior vice president, Europe, Middle East and Africa.
Virgin Atlantic expands codeshare deal with Jet Airways
Virgin Atlantic has announced it will be offering new travel options to four Indian cities through an expanded codeshare agreement with its partner, Jet Airways. Virgin Atlantic customers will be able to purchase tickets to Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai and Kolkata, connecting between Virgin Atlantic’s London Heathrow – Delhi service and Indian domestic codeshare flights operated by Jet Airways.
Virgin Atlantic launches summer flights from Belfast to Orlando
Virgin Atlantic is celebrating the first of its new summer flights between Belfast and Orlando and has also confirmed the return of the route for next year. The weekly service from Northern Ireland to the Sunshine State will continue for four weeks this summer.
Virgin Atlantic appoints new commercial vice president
Virgin Atlantic ha revealed the appointment of Erik Varwijk as executive vice president commercial. He will be responsible for leading all commercial teams across the business including sales and customer engagement, marketing and customer experience, network and alliances and revenue management.
Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic reveal summer schedule
Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic Airways are celebrating a significant expansion of their transatlantic partnership, with the introduction of a new flying programme that sees six new daily services available to customers. From this weekend the two airlines begin their summer schedule, offering up to 39 return transatlantic flights a day between the UK and 15 destinations across North America.
Virgin Atlantic returns to profit after successful turnaround
Virgin Atlantic has published annual financial results, confirming the successful delivery of its two year recovery plan and a return to profit. For the year ended December 31st, the group reported a profit before tax and exceptional items of £14.4 million, representing an improvement of £65.4 million on the previous year’s financial performance.
Virgin Atlantic takes Dreamliner to San Francisco with new daily service
Virgin Atlantic is doubling its flights between London Heathrow and San Francisco, by adding a second daily service from October 24th – and will be putting its newest aircraft on the route. Last year Virgin Atlantic announced it would add a second service to San Francisco five times a week for the summer season, starting on March 29th. Due to its popularity, the airline will be extending the service and next winter it will be flying the route twice daily, seven days a week from October.