Virgin Atlantic is strategically enhancing its global network and customer offerings through new codeshare alliances. These partnerships, showcasing Virgin Atlantic Alliance Partners, are set to provide passengers with increased connectivity, greater choice, and enhanced benefits for frequent flyers. Celebrating its 40th anniversary, Virgin Atlantic continues to prioritize customer experience and expand its reach through collaborations with key airlines.
Relaunch of Tel Aviv Route Complemented by EL AL Codeshare Partnership
Virgin Atlantic is reaffirming its commitment to the UK-Israel travel market by resuming flights to Tel Aviv, while simultaneously forging a new codeshare agreement with EL AL. Since its initial launch in September 2019, the London Heathrow to Tel Aviv route has been popular with Virgin Atlantic customers. The airline is pleased to announce the route’s resumption, effective from September 5, 2024, marking its return after a temporary suspension since October 11, 2023. Daily flights will be operated using Airbus A330 aircraft, ensuring passengers experience Virgin Atlantic’s renowned service on this important route. Crucially, this route provides seamless connections through Heathrow to 14 destinations across the US, leveraging the 33 daily flights operated by Virgin Atlantic and its transatlantic partner, Delta Air Lines.
Adding significant value to this relaunch is the new codeshare partnership with EL AL. This collaboration between Virgin Atlantic and EL AL, prominent virgin atlantic alliance partners, significantly boosts travel options between the UK, Israel, and the US. By placing their respective codes on flights operating from London Heathrow and Tel Aviv, both airlines will offer customers increased flexibility and flight frequencies, with up to four daily flights to choose from. This partnership extends beyond scheduling convenience, encompassing reciprocal benefits for frequent flyer programs. Members of Virgin Atlantic’s Flying Club and EL AL’s Matmid program will enjoy reciprocal earn and redemption opportunities, along with premium customer recognition and tier benefits. Virgin Atlantic customers can now access 11 US destinations via 23 daily flights by connecting onto EL AL services from Tel Aviv to Heathrow. This codeshare agreement truly exemplifies the strength of virgin atlantic alliance partners in expanding travel possibilities.
Strengthening SkyTeam Alliance with SAS and Saudia Codeshare Agreements
Virgin Atlantic’s commitment to its SkyTeam alliance is further demonstrated through new codeshare partnerships with fellow SkyTeam members, SAS Scandinavian Airlines and Saudia. Having joined SkyTeam in March 2023 as the alliance’s first UK member, Virgin Atlantic is actively leveraging its membership to enhance customer benefits. The addition of SAS Scandinavian Airlines to SkyTeam further strengthens the alliance network, and Virgin Atlantic is eager to collaborate with SAS, recognized as a fellow APEX five-star airline. These virgin atlantic alliance partners, Virgin Atlantic and SAS, are developing commercial partnerships aimed at improving access to and from key Scandinavian hubs. Travelers can anticipate new destinations, improved connectivity, and a more streamlined and elevated journey as a result of this collaboration. Once SAS officially joins SkyTeam on September 1, 2024*, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club members will gain immediate opportunities to earn and redeem points on SAS flights, and similarly, SAS EuroBonus members can accrue and utilize points on Virgin Atlantic services.
Furthermore, the newly launched codeshare with Saudia, another SkyTeam member and key virgin atlantic alliance partner, establishes vital connections between Saudi Arabia and Virgin Atlantic’s extensive destination network. Currently in its initial phase, this agreement allows Virgin Atlantic customers originating from the US to seamlessly connect through London Heathrow and Manchester onto Saudia flights to Jeddah and Riyadh. Since March 2023, earning Virgin Points and Tier Points on Saudia flights has been available, with online redemption options launched recently, providing tangible benefits for frequent flyers. Saudia’s AlFursan members can also earn and redeem points on Virgin Atlantic flights, further illustrating the mutual advantages of these virgin atlantic alliance partners.
Virgin Atlantic’s Commitment to Expanded Choice and Strategic Partnerships
Juha Jarvinen, Chief Commercial Officer of Virgin Atlantic, emphasizes the airline’s dedication to customer satisfaction and strategic collaborations: “As we commemorate our 40th anniversary, we recognize that providing our customers with greater choice and our acclaimed service is fundamental to our success. This is achieved through collaboration with outstanding partners. We are thrilled to initiate codeshares with our SkyTeam partners SAS and Saudia, which will significantly improve connectivity and deliver enhanced benefits to our valued frequent flyers, enabling them to accrue rewards more rapidly.”
Jarvinen further highlights the significance of the Tel Aviv route relaunch and the EL AL partnership: “The resumption of our Tel Aviv service on September 5th is excellent news for our customers who have appreciated our flights since 2019. This service will be further enhanced by our new codeshare partnership with EL AL.”
These strategic alliances underscore Virgin Atlantic’s ongoing commitment to expanding its global network, providing customers with more travel options, and delivering exceptional value through its virgin atlantic alliance partners.
| Partner Airline | Launch Date/ On-Sale Date | Routes |
|---|---|---|
| EL AL | Virgin Atlantic code on El Al – June 10. El Al code on Virgin Atlantic – September 5 (when TLV operations resume) | London Heathrow – Tel Aviv and vice versa |
| SAS Scandinavian Airlines | September (once SAS formally joins SkyTeam) | Coming soon |
| Saudia | Now live | LHR – JED/RUH from US POS. MAN – JED from US POS |
Ends
*Subject to government approval.
For further information, please contact the Virgin Atlantic press office on +441293 747373 or via email at [email protected].
About Virgin Atlantic
Founded in 1984 by Sir Richard Branson, Virgin Atlantic is renowned for its innovative spirit and exceptional customer service. Recognized as Britain’s only Global Five Star Airline by APEX for seven consecutive years, Virgin Atlantic is headquartered in London and employs over 8,500 individuals globally, serving 30 destinations across four continents annually.
In partnership with shareholder and Joint Venture partner Delta Air Lines, Virgin Atlantic operates a leading transatlantic network, offering connections to over 200 cities worldwide. The expanded Joint Venture launched in February 2020, including Air France-KLM, Delta Air Lines, and Virgin Atlantic, provides an extensive route network, convenient schedules, competitive fares, and reciprocal frequent flyer benefits across all participating carriers. Virgin Atlantic became part of SkyTeam in March 2023, becoming the alliance’s first and sole UK member airline, strengthening SkyTeam’s transatlantic network and services to and from Heathrow and Manchester Airport.
Virgin Atlantic is a pioneer in sustainability within the aviation industry, committed to achieving Net Zero by 2050 through continuous environmental impact reduction initiatives. The airline operates one of the youngest and most fuel-efficient fleets, with an average aircraft age of under seven years. The introduction of the first of 16 A330-900neos in October 2022 is part of Virgin Atlantic’s strategy to transition to a 100% next-generation fleet by 2028. In November 2023, Virgin Atlantic spearheaded the world’s first transatlantic flight using 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), demonstrating the viability of 100% SAF as a drop-in fuel within existing aviation infrastructure. Virgin Atlantic is dedicated to fostering collaboration across the energy sector to accelerate the commercialization of SAF and scale up production by 2030.
For more information, please visit www.virginatlantic.com or connect via Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @virginatlantic.
