Virgin Atlantic News
Virgin Atlantic returns to Tobago following brief hiatus
Virgin Atlantic has confirmed it will be offering services from London Gatwick Airport to the island of Tobago from March 2015. The airline will be resuming flights to the southern Caribbean island with weekly departures between March and October, and twice weekly departures between October and March. The flights were originally cancelled in March this year.
Virgin Atlantic launches first airline pilot career programme
In a first for the airline, Virgin Atlantic has today announced its airline pilot career programme - The Virgin Atlantic Future Flyers Programme - offering potential pilots the chance to join the airline with no previous flying experience. The programme, run in partnership with CTC Aviation, is the only one in Europe that sees new recruits training on long-haul aircraft once they receive their license.
Virgin Atlantic signs up HSBC to low carbon fuel intuitive
Virgin Atlantic has announced the UK’s largest bank, HSBC, is joining its exciting partnership with LanzaTech in preparation for a world-first flight using a ground-breaking low carbon fuel. LanzaTech is developing a revolutionary fuel that sees waste gases from industrial steel production being captured, fermented and then chemically converted for use as jet fuel.
Virgin Atlantic welcomes first Boeing Dreamliner 787-9 to Europe
Boeing and Virgin Atlantic Airways are celebrating the delivery of the airline’s first 787-9 Dreamliner. The airline is the first European airline to take delivery of the 787-9 and plans to operate the airplane initially on its London Heathrow to Boston route. Virgin Atlantic’s first 787-9 touched down at London’s Gatwick Airport following a more than 7,400 kilometre non-stop flight from Paine Field in Everett, Washington.
Virgin Atlantic calls time on Little Red subsidiary
Virgin Atlantic has announced its intention to cease its Little Red operation next year. Its daily services between London Heathrow and Manchester will continue until the end of March 2015, while its flights between London Heathrow and Edinburgh and Aberdeen will continue throughout summer 2015 with the final flights in September 2015. Little Red was launched in March 2013 as an attempt to reintroduce consumer choice on key domestic services after British Airways’ takeover of bmi created a monopoly on the routes.
Virgin Atlantic adds flights from Glasgow to Orlando
Virgin Atlantic is planning to add a third weekly service in 2015, adding 3,500 seats on the route from June to October. “We’ve seen our Glasgow to Orlando service go from strength to strength since we started the route in 2007,” Joe Thompson, director of network and alliances at Virgin Atlantic, said.
Virgin Atlantic takes long-term view with new positioning
Virgin Atlantic has announced its plans to grow to record levels of sustained profitability by 2018. Building on its existing two year recovery plan, which is on target to deliver an annual profit by the end of 2014, the airline is now shifting focus onto positioning its business for long term success.
Kreeger to tell WTM about plans to pilot Virgin Atlantic
Virgin Atlantic boss Craig Kreeger will tell delegates at World Travel Market about plans for the airline’s future, as it celebrates 30 years in the business. Founded by Sir Richard Branson in 1984, the transatlantic carrier now has a fleet of 40 long-haul aircraft, flying six million passengers a year all over the world.
Virgin Atlantic adds new leisure flights to North America
Virgin Atlantic has announced two new direct services for UK holiday makers next summer; between Belfast and Orlando and Glasgow and Las Vegas. The airline is expanding its existing Orlando and Las Vegas services to help meet high demand to two of its flagship leisure destinations for customers based in Northern Ireland and Scotland - and will be the only scheduled airline to fly these routes.
Virgin Atlantic collaborates with onesie designers
Virgin Atlantic has collaborated with the original onesie designers, OnePiece, to trial a limited edition OnePiece onesie for Upper Class passengers. Modelled by English model, Amber Le Bon, the onesie is set to become a must have for bedtime glamour and will be available from mid-June for a thousand passengers travelling on selected night flights across Virgin Atlantic’s long haul network.
Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic synchronise transatlantic schedules
Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic Airways will transfer operations for non-stop flights connecting London-Heathrow to Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and Los Angeles International Airport this winter, offering more choice for the airlines’ customers on key routes across the Atlantic. Effective October 26th, 2014, Delta will begin operating one of two daily Heathrow-Los Angeles flights currently operated by Virgin Atlantic.
Virgin insider takes chief financial role at Virgin Atlantic
Virgin Atlantic Airways has announced the appointment of Shai Weiss to the role of chief financial officer, effective as of July 7th. Shai will join Virgin Atlantic from Virgin Group, where he has been an investment partner since 2007.