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Tag: Virgin Atlantic

  • Virgin Atlantic back in Ghana after over a decade of suspended operations

    Virgin Atlantic back in Ghana after over a decade of suspended operations

    Virgin Atlantic is set to resume its flights to Ghana with a daily service between Accra and London Heathrow beginning in May 2025. This marks the airline’s first operation on this route since 2013, aiming to offer increased competition and more options for travelers.

    The reinstated route responds to the rising demand for travel between Ghana and the UK, home to the world’s third-largest Ghanaian diaspora.

    In addition to connecting Accra and London, passengers will have access to Virgin Atlantic’s extensive network of US destinations, including New York, Boston, Washington, DC, Miami, and Los Angeles.

    Starting on 1st May 2025, the daily flights will be operated using a mix of Airbus A330-300 and A330-900neo aircraft. These planes will feature Virgin Atlantic’s Upper Class, Premium, Economy Delight, Classic, and Light cabins, along with an onboard social space.

    The route is also expected to be a strong cargo corridor, with the airline offering 30 tonnes of capacity per flight for goods such as fresh produce between Ghana and key markets in the UK and US.

    Virgin Atlantic announced on Monday, September 2, that it will resume daily flights between Accra and London Heathrow starting in May 2025. This marks the airline’s return to this route after a hiatus since 2013, aiming to offer travellers enhanced competition and more options.

    Founded by Sir Richard Branson in 1984, Virgin Atlantic is celebrated for its innovation and top-notch customer service. As a member of the global Skyteam alliance, the airline provides three distinct cabin classes, each with its own premium amenities. Passengers enjoy complimentary meals and beverages, over 300 hours of entertainment, and a fleet equipped with full Wi-Fi connectivity.

    Upper-Class travelers experience additional perks, including fully flat beds, a private security channel at Heathrow, access to the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse, and the Revivals lounge.

    In 2024, Virgin Atlantic earned the title of Britain’s sole Global Five Star Airline from APEX for the eighth year running and maintains a five-star rating from SkyTrax.

    Juha Jarvinen, Chief Commercial Officer of Virgin Atlantic, commented on the new service: “The UK is home to the third largest Ghanaian diaspora in the world, and we see huge opportunities to connect friends, relatives, and businesses with our new service, as well as providing much-needed competition and choice on the Accra to London route.”

    “We look forward to launching in 2025 and reminding Ghanaians of the iconic Virgin Atlantic brand and award-winning experience, delivered by our amazing people.”

  • Virgin Atlantic to resume operations in Ghana after 12 years

    Virgin Atlantic to resume operations in Ghana after 12 years

    Virgin Atlantic has announced new flights from London Heathrow, adding two new destinations Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and Accra, Ghana to its network for summer 2025. 

    Virgin Atlantic will return to Ghana for the first time since 2013, with daily flights to Kotoka International Airport in the nation’s capital, Accra, from May 2025. 

    Virgin Atlantic suspended its operations between London Heathrow and Accra, Ghana, from 22nd September 2013 due to exceptionally high fuel costs, a challenging wider economic environment and an inability to operate morning arrivals from Accra due to scarcity of slots at Heathrow. The last flight from Accra to London will depart on 23rd September.

    Next year, the airline will provide much-needed competition on the route, which currently lacks a choice of routes between the two countries.    

    The UK is home to the third largest Ghanaian diaspora in the world and the new service will respond to demand to visit friends and relatives. Around 10% of customers are also expected to connect through London onto Virgin Atlantic’s New York JFK service.  

    Launching on 1 May 2025, the daily service will operate on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft boasting the airline’s Upper Class, Premium and Economy Delight, Classic and Light cabins, as well as an onboard bar. Accra is expected to be a very strong cargo route and Virgin Atlantic will offer 30 tonnes of capacity on each flight carrying goods, such as fresh produce, between Ghana and key markets in the UK and US. 

    Juha Jarvinen, Chief Commercial Officer, Virgin Atlantic, said “Riyadh and Accra join Toronto as new routes for summer flying in 2025 and we see huge opportunities to connect friends, relatives and businesses with our new services. We’re also delighted to build on our codeshare with SkyTeam partner Saudia, further strengthening connectivity in the region, and beyond, and bringing new benefits to our loyal customers.”

    He added, “We look forward to launching these new routes in 2025, introducing the iconic, inclusive Virgin Atlantic brand, award-winning experience and our amazing people to new customers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Ghana and Toronto.” 

    Saudi Arabia

    For the first time, the airline will launch a daily service to King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The service aims to participate in the growth expected from Saudi Vision 2030. In 2023, annual trade between the UK and Saudi Arabia was worth £17.1 billion with an ambition to reach £30 billion of trade by 2030. Accordingly, air travel between the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia is forecast to grow 24% between 2019-2035.  

    Riyadh is in growth mode, with an expanded downtown business district, F1 circuit, theme park, shopping and entertainment complexes. The city is also the perfect base to explore cultural attractions across this vast country including the UNESCO World Heritage sites of historical Jeddah, the gateway to Mecca, Al Ula, Al Ahsa, and the stunning Rock Art in Hima.  

    Saudi Arabia is world’s 20th largest economy, the largest in the Middle East with a population of 37 million. The market is expected to have a predominantly Saudi Arabian point of sale, which will see customers visiting the UK, as well as seamlessly connecting to twelve destinations throughout North America, on Virgin Atlantic and Delta networks, including Atlanta, New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Seattle, Boston and Detroit.  

    Alongside business travellers, the route will serve the ‘visiting friends and relatives’ (VFR) market, which has seen a fivefold increase in Saudis living in the UK between 2000 and 2018. 

    Flights to Riyadh will operate daily on the airline’s state of the art A330neo, the newest aircraft in Virgin Atlantic’s fleet, with the first flight departing London Heathrow on 30 March 2025. Virgin Atlantic will offer 30 tonnes of cargo capacity on each flight for companies looking to export and import goods, such as fresh produce and specialised goods, including pharmaceuticals, between Riyadh and prime markets in the UK and US. 

    Riyadh is also home to the airline’s SkyTeam partner, Saudia. The partnership will offer onward connections to Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi, with further destinations within Saudi Arabia and to Bangladesh and China to follow as the airline continues to grow its strategic partnership with Saudia. Flying Club members will earn and redeem Virgin Points across Saudia’s flying programme, alongside SkyTeam partners. All Saudia operated flights from London Heathrow and Manchester to Riyadh and Jeddah are already marketed by Virgin Atlantic, and on sale across all sales channels, offering multi-daily departures between the United Kingdom and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. 

  • British Airways and Virgin Atlantic aircraft collide at Heathrow

    British Airways and Virgin Atlantic aircraft collide at Heathrow

    A Virgin Atlantic plane crashed into a British Airways plane while they were both moving away from the terminal. The two planes crashed into each other on the runway at Heathrow Airport while people watched in surprise.

    Both planes had only a little damage.

    Virgin Atlantic said: “We know that the tip of a wing on one of our empty planes hit another plane while it was being moved from the parking spot at London Heathrow Terminal 3. ”

    We always focus on keeping our customers and crew safe. No passengers were on the Virgin Atlantic plane at that time.

    “We have started a detailed investigation and our engineers are checking the airplane for any problems. The airplane will not be used until the checks are done. ”

    They said the plane had just finished flying and was being pulled to a different part of the airfield when it crashed.

    Their flights are on schedule and there are no delays.

    Someone on Twitter, named Alex Whittles, said “I just saw a plane crash at Heathrow. ”

    ‘A tug pushing a Virgin 787 hit the wing of a BA A350. ‘

  • Virgin Atlantic to make history with 100% SAF transatlantic flight

    Virgin Atlantic to make history with 100% SAF transatlantic flight

    Virgin Atlantic and Rolls-Royce have announced that they will operate the world’s first transatlantic flight powered entirely by Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) on 28 November 2023.

    The flight will depart from London Heathrow and land at New York JFK on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, using a SAF blend of 88% Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids (HEFA) and 12% synthetic aromatic kerosene (SAK).

    The SAF will be supplied by Air bp and Virent, who will provide 60 tonnes of the fuel for the project, which is jointly funded by the Department for Transport and involves a consortium of partners, including Boeing, University of Sheffield, Imperial College London and Rocky Mountain Institute.

    The project aims to demonstrate the potential of SAF as a 100% drop-in replacement for conventional jet fuel, as well as to reduce the environmental impacts of aviation and contribute to research and development on the non-CO2 effects of flying.

    SAF is a low-carbon alternative to fossil fuels that can reduce CO2 lifecycle emissions by more than 70%, while still meeting the strict quality and safety standards required for aviation. SAF is currently the most viable option for decarbonising long-haul flights, but it represents less than 0.1% of jet fuel volumes and fuel standards only allow for a 50% SAF blend in commercial jet engines.

    The Virgin Atlantic flight will be the first to use 100% SAF in a commercial aircraft, pending further regulatory approvals and testing. The partners have already completed a successful ground test on the Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engine, which powers the Boeing 787 aircraft, using the chosen SAF blend.

    Virgin Atlantic is committed to finding more sustainable ways to fly and achieving its Net Zero 2050 goal. The airline already operates one of the most fuel and carbon efficient fleets across the Atlantic and has a 15-year track record of leading on SAF.

    Shai Weiss, CEO of Virgin Atlantic, said: “The 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel transatlantic flight will be a historic moment in aviation’s roadmap to decarbonisation. Alongside fleet transformation, SAF is the most readily available way for our industry to decarbonise, but currently there’s not enough supply and without it and the radical collaboration required to produce it, we can’t meet our 2030 targets. We need UK government support to create a UK SAF industry to allow for every single flight out of the UK to operate with 100% SAF – if we make it, we can fly it.”

    Rob Watson, President of Civil Aerospace at Rolls-Royce, said: “We are incredibly proud that our Trent 1000 engines will power the first ever flight using 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel across the Atlantic. Confirming that we have successfully completed the ground test of the Trent 1000 engine today, using the chosen 100% SAF blend, gives us increased confidence for the engine’s performance and operation ahead of the flight this November. The flight will represent an incredible milestone for the entire aviation industry in its journey towards net zero carbon emissions.”

    Andreea Moyes, Global Head of Sustainability at Air bp, said: “We are thrilled to be supplying Sustainable Aviation Fuel for the world’s first 100% SAF transatlantic flight. SAF is currently the most viable option to help us meet the industry’s net zero ambition and in the short and medium term it will be the only option for long-haul flights. Moving our industry and policy towards the use of 100% SAF is important as we work in collaboration with key stakeholders to help decarbonise aviation.”

    Dave Kettner, President & General Counsel at Virent said: “With Virent’s plant-based Synthesized Aromatic Kerosene (SAK) providing essential fuel components, this test showed that 100% drop-in renewable fuel is cleaner burning and will work seamlessly in today’s commercial airline engines. We’re honoured to collaborate with Virgin Atlantic, Rolls-Royce and Air bp as these forward-looking companies lead the way in sustainable aviation. Virent shares their commitment to finding sustainable ways to fly, and we’re excited about the pivotal role our BioForm® SAK plays in making that goal a reality.”

    Sheila Remes, Vice President of Environmental Sustainability at Boeing said: “Boeing is proud to provide technical expertise and support for this testing as we gear-up for Virgin Atlantic’s flagship Boeing 787 Dreamliner to make the first 100% SAF transatlantic flight. We look forward to continuing to work with our project partners on this journey, taking one more step towards a sustainable future of flight.”

  • Virgin Atlantic files for bankruptcy in the US to secure its rescue deal

    Virgin Atlantic has filed for bankruptcy in the United States as it races to finalize a $1.5 billion plan to rescue it from the aviation industry’s worst crisis.

    The company, which is based in the United Kingdom, filed for Chapter 15 bankruptcy protection in New York on Tuesday, which shelters the US assets of foreign companies undergoing restructuring proceedings in their home country.

    The US filing followed a UK court hearing earlier the same day, where Virgin Atlantic obtained approval to call a meeting of creditors on August 25 to vote on the restructuring plan.

    “The process we have asked to be recognized [in the United States] is a solvent restructuring of an English company… under the English Companies Act,” a spokesperson for the company said in a statement.

    Virgin Atlantic last month unveiled a £1.2 billion ($1.5 billion) restructuring deal to keep the airline solvent just days before it resumed passenger flights. The plan has the support of shareholders, including Delta Air Lines (DAL), and existing creditors.

    US hedge fund Davidson Kempner is providing £150 million ($188 million) in secured financing as part of the recapitalization plan, which Virgin Atlantic said will come into effect next month. Richard Branson’s Virgin Group is contributing £200 million ($262 million).

    “We remain confident in the plan,” the Virgin Atlantic spokesperson added.
    Virgin Atlantic has already laid off 3,550 staff and closed its base at London’s Gatwick airport, as aviation suffers its worst downturn ever because of the coronavirus pandemic.

    Sister company Virgin Australia on Wednesday announced a sweeping restructuring plan under new owner, Bain Capital. The airline is slashing 3,000 jobs, or about a third of its workforce, and discontinuing its low-cost carrier, Tigerair Australia.

    Global air travel isn’t expected to fully recover from the coronavirus pandemic until 2024, according to the International Air Transport Association, which represents 290 airlines. The group blamed the sluggish recovery on several factors, including a lack of consumer confidence, the decline in business travel, and fresh coronavirus spikes in the United States and elsewhere.

    Source: cnn.com

  • Coronavirus: Virgin Atlantic to cut 3,000 jobs and quit Gatwick

    Virgin Atlantic has announced it is to cut more than 3,000 jobs in the UK and end its operation at Gatwick airport.

    The shock announcement comes after rival British Airways said it could not rule out closing its Gatwick operation. Pilots’ union Balpa described it as “devastating”.

    Many airlines have been struggling as the coronavirus pandemic has brought global travel to a virtual standstill.

    The airline currently employs a total of about 10,000 people.

    Virgin Atlantic, which is in the process of applying for emergency loans from the government, said that jobs will be lost across the board.

    “We have weathered many storms since our first flight 36 years ago but none has been as devastating as Covid-19 and the associated loss of life and livelihood for so many,” said Virgin Atlantic chief executive Shai Weiss.
    ‘Dire situation’

    Balpa the union said: “This is another terrible blow for the industry and is evidence of the dire situation facing UK aviation.

    Balpa general secretary, Brian Strutton, said: “Our members and all staff in Virgin Atlantic will be shocked by the scale of this bombshell. We will be challenging Virgin very hard to justify this.”

    Virgin Atlantic also said it will move its flying programme from Gatwick to Heathrow. It said it intended to keep its slots at Gatwick “so it can return in line with customer demand”.

    However, Mr Weiss said there was no certainty when the air travel industry would recover from the coronavirus crisis.

    “After 9/11 and the global financial crisis, we took similar painful measures but fortunately many members of our team were back flying with us within a couple of years.

    “Depending on how long the pandemic lasts and the period of time our planes are grounded for, hopefully the same will happen this time.”

    Gatwick said the company was “very saddened” to hear of Virgin Atlantic’s plans.

    The airline has flown from the airport since 1984, and Gatwick said: “Virgin Atlantic will always be welcome at Gatwick and we will continue our efforts to explore ways to restart the airline’s operations as soon as possible, in the knowledge that they intend to retain their slot portfolio at Gatwick for when demand returns.”

    Source: bbc.com

  • Coronavirus: Virgin Atlantic admits flying near-empty planes

    Virgin Atlantic has confirmed it has been forced to operate some near-empty flights after bookings were dented by the coronavirus outbreak.

    It is operating the flights to try to retain take-off and landing slots at major airports such as Heathrow.

    Under European law, if flights are not operated, slots have to be forfeited.

    UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has written to the European Commission, asking for rules on slot allocation to be relaxed during the outbreak.

    Other carriers are thought to be taking similar steps – even reportedly flying so-called “ghost planes” with no passengers on board at all in order to safeguard their presence at major hubs.

    ‘Use it or lose it’

    Airline passenger numbers have fallen dramatically in recent weeks due to the coronavirus outbreak. On some routes, they have halved and carriers have been cancelling services.

    However, this could cause them a serious problem, particularly if they fly out of large or heavily congested airports. Under international guidelines, which are enshrined in European law, take-off and landing slots at these airports are limited.

    In the UK, the rules apply to Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Manchester, London Luton and London City.

    Slots are granted according to historical rights at these airports. If, for example, a carrier operated a particular schedule through the summer season last year, it retains the right to those same slots this summer.

    But there is a catch. Under the “use it or lose it” rule, slots have to be used at least 80% of the time. If an airline fails to reach that threshold, the slots are put back into a pool and allocated to other carriers.

    Although they are technically granted for free, there is a thriving secondary market on which the most desirable slots can change hands for significant sums – tens of millions of pounds across a season. So airlines are very reluctant to lose them.

    The rule has already been suspended on routes to China and Hong Kong, but still applies elsewhere.

    “Passenger demand for air travel has dramatically fallen due to Covid-19 and in some instances we are being forced to fly almost empty planes or lose our valuable slots”, said Shai Weiss, chief executive of Virgin Atlantic.

    One UK carrier has said that unless the rules change, it will have to operate 32 flights over the next two weeks with only 40% of the aircraft occupied. That would leave more than 5,000 seats empty.

    ‘Wasting money and fuel’

    Airlines are now lobbying hard for the rules to be relaxed.

    Tim Alderslade, chief executive of the industry body Airlines UK, said: “It makes no sense whatsoever under these unique and challenging circumstances to force airlines to fly empty aircraft, wasting money and fuel and creating carbon emissions”.

    He added: “We urgently need a temporary suspension of the rule – as happened during the financial crisis – to allow airlines to respond to demand and use their aircraft efficiently.”

    However, if the rules are to be relaxed, the decision will have to come from Brussels. Although the UK has officially withdrawn from the European Union (EU), an EU regulation on slot allocation still applies.

    On Monday the Transport Secretary Grant Shapps wrote to the European Commission. He asked it to introduce “practical and proportionate measures” to address the situation, possibly including “flexibility with the 80% threshold, implemented on a market-by-market basis or more broadly”.

    The body directly responsible for slot allocation in the UK, Airport Coordination Limited, has joined other organisations from across Europe in calling for the “use it or lose it” measure to be suspended from mid-February until the end of June.

    Source: bbc.com