Virgin Atlantic, celebrating its 40th anniversary, continues to enhance its global reach and customer benefits through strategic collaborations. This year marks a significant expansion in its partnership network, designed to offer passengers more choice, seamless connectivity, and enhanced rewards. Let’s delve into the exciting new partnerships that Virgin Atlantic is forging, reinforcing its commitment to exceptional customer service and a wider network.
New Horizons with EL AL: A Partnership Connecting the UK, US, and Israel
Virgin Atlantic is thrilled to announce a new codeshare partnership with EL AL, Israel’s national airline, set to revolutionize travel between the UK and Israel. This collaboration not only expands travel options but also marks Virgin Atlantic’s highly anticipated return to Tel Aviv, with flights resuming on September 5, 2024.
Since its initial route launch in September 2019, Virgin Atlantic’s service between London Heathrow and Tel Aviv has been popular. The upcoming resumption of daily flights, utilizing the Airbus A330 aircraft, will once again provide vital connections. Crucially, through London Heathrow, passengers can seamlessly connect to an impressive 14 US destinations, thanks to the 33 daily flights operated by Virgin Atlantic and its transatlantic partner, Delta Air Lines.
Image showing a Virgin Atlantic Airbus A330 aircraft, highlighting the type of plane used for the Tel Aviv route.
The codeshare agreement with EL AL further enriches travel possibilities. By placing their respective codes on flights between London Heathrow and Tel Aviv, both airlines offer passengers increased flexibility and flight frequencies, reaching up to four daily flights. This partnership translates to greater choice for travelers planning journeys between the UK and Israel.
Beyond flight options, the partnership extends to reciprocal benefits for frequent flyers. Members of Virgin Atlantic’s Flying Club and EL AL’s Matmid program can now earn and redeem points on both airlines. Premium customers will also enjoy recognition and tier benefits, enhancing loyalty rewards across both networks. Virgin Atlantic customers can now access EL AL’s services from Tel Aviv to Heathrow and conveniently connect onwards to 11 US cities via 23 daily flights, broadening their transatlantic travel options.
Strengthening Ties within SkyTeam: Welcoming SAS and Saudia
Virgin Atlantic’s commitment to its SkyTeam alliance membership, which began in March 2023, is further solidified with new codeshare agreements with fellow SkyTeam members, SAS Scandinavian Airlines and Saudia. The addition of SAS Scandinavian Airlines, joining SkyTeam on September 1, 2024, as a fellow APEX five-star airline, presents exciting opportunities for enhanced connectivity within Scandinavia and beyond.
Virgin Atlantic and SAS are actively developing commercial partnerships to optimize access to and from key Scandinavian hubs. This collaboration promises new destinations and a more streamlined, elevated travel experience for passengers. Upon SAS officially joining SkyTeam, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club members will immediately gain the ability to earn and redeem points on SAS flights, and similarly, SAS EuroBonus members can accrue and utilize points on Virgin Atlantic services.
The SkyTeam logo, representing the global airline alliance Virgin Atlantic is a part of, emphasizing the collaborative network.
Furthermore, the newly launched codeshare with Saudia provides vital connections between Saudi Arabia and Virgin Atlantic’s extensive network. Currently, the agreement enables Virgin Atlantic customers originating from the US to seamlessly connect through London Heathrow and Manchester onto Saudia flights to Jeddah and Riyadh. The ability to earn and redeem Virgin Points and Tier Points on Saudia flights has been available since March 2023, with online redemption options launched recently, further enhancing the value proposition for frequent flyers. Saudia AlFursan members also benefit, gaining the ability to earn and redeem points on Virgin Atlantic flights.
Virgin Atlantic’s Vision: Partnerships for Enhanced Customer Journeys
Juha Jarvinen, Chief Commercial Officer of Virgin Atlantic, emphasizes the core philosophy driving these partnerships: “As we celebrate our 40th anniversary this month, we know that giving our customers more choice and award-winning service in the skies is what fuels our success, alongside working with the best partners.” He highlights the delight in launching codeshares with SkyTeam partners SAS and Saudia, stating it enhances connectivity and provides greater benefits to frequent flyers, enabling them to earn rewards faster.
Jarvinen also underscores the significance of the Tel Aviv route resumption and the EL AL codeshare, noting it will be “welcome news for customers who have enjoyed our service since 2019, and this time round it’ll be strengthened by our new codeshare partnership with EL AL.”
In conclusion, Virgin Atlantic’s strategic partnerships with EL AL, SAS, and Saudia represent a significant step forward in expanding its network and enriching the travel experience for its customers. These collaborations deliver increased connectivity, greater choice, and enhanced rewards for frequent flyers, reinforcing Virgin Atlantic’s position as a leading global airline committed to customer satisfaction and innovation.
