Virgin Atlantic, the British airline known for its innovation and unique branding, has been a significant player in the UK’s long-haul market for several decades. The airline is enthusiastic about its future and continues to evolve.
Ready for takeoff? Let’s depart into the world of this British-based airline. In no particular order, here are 15 interesting facts about Virgin Atlantic, covering topics such as its history and current operations.
1. Who founded Virgin Atlantic?
Billionaire Richard Branson founded Virgin Atlantic in 1984.
During an interview with The Independent, Branson said the airline industry was “abysmally run” at the time he decided to create the airline.
2. The airline’s inaugural flight took place in 1984
Virgin Atlantic’s maiden flight took place on June 22, 1984, with a service from London Gatwick to Newark/New York.
Richard Branson was on that inaugural flight.
3. It has bases at two major UK airports
Virgin Atlantic has bases at London Heathrow Airport and Manchester Airport.
4. How many aircraft does Virgin Atlantic have in its fleet?
According to Virgin Atlantic’s official website, the airline has 43 aircraft in its fleet, including models such as the Airbus A350-1000, Boeing 787-900, Airbus A330-300, and Airbus A330neo.
5. It serves over 30 destinations around the world
The airline serves destinations in North America, the Caribbean, Africa, and Asia.
6. The airline has a frequent flyer program
Virgin Atlantic’s frequent flyer program is called Flying Club.
Members can earn Virgin Points and Tier Points when flying with the airline or its partners.
7. It is a member of a major airline alliance
Virgin Atlantic has been a member of the SkyTeam alliance since March 2023.
The alliance also includes airlines such as KLM, Air France, and Delta Air Lines.
8. The airline is 49% owned by Delta Air Lines
Virgin Atlantic is owned by the Virgin Group (51%) and Delta Air Lines (49%).
The American airline acquired the 49% stake in 2012.
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9. Virgin Atlantic offers three classes of service
The airline offers three classes of service on its flights: Economy, Premium Economy, and Upper Class.
10. It has dedicated lounges at various airports
The lounges are located at London Heathrow, New York (JFK), Johannesburg (JNB), San Francisco (SFO), and Washington, DC (IAD).
11. Virgin Atlantic has a strong safety record
Since its first flight in 1984, Virgin Atlantic has never been involved in a hull-loss incident or recorded any passenger fatalities.
12. It once had a subsidiary airline
Virgin Atlantic had a subsidiary airline called Little Red between 2012 and 2015.
The subsidiary primarily operated domestic flights wihin the United Kingdom.
13. Virgin Atlantic champions individuality
In September 2022, the airline announced an update to its gender identity policy, which included eliminating the requirement for gendered uniforms.
Additionally, Virgin Atlantic has introduced other initiatives focused on individuality, such as a trans inclusion policy that provides time off for gender transition medical treatments.
14. The airline has several codeshare agreements
In addition to the airlines in the SkyTeam alliance, Virgin Atlantic has several codeshare agreements with Air New Zealand, EL AL, IndiGo, LATAM, Singapore Airlines, and WestJet.
Codeshares are agreements allowing airlines to sell tickets under their flight numbers for services operated by other carriers.
15. Virgin Atlantic names its aircraft
Virgin Atlantic is known for naming its aircraft.
For example, G-VINE – one of its Airbus A330-300s – is named Champagne Belle.
This article was updated on October 9, 2024.
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