Virgin and Delta confirm new transatlantic schedule
Virgin and Delta have outlined details of their new transatlantic flight schedule from next summer after gaining anti-trust immunity for their joint venture.
From March 30, the two airlines will combine their slots at Heathrow to offer more convenient services, particularly for business travellers.
From April 2, Delta will move several of its flights including those to New York JFK, Boston and Seattle to join Virgin Atlantic in Heathrow Terminal 3, where all Delta business class passengers will be given access to Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse.
"We are working on a series of improvements to enhance the travel experience for our customers," said Virgin CEO Craig Kreeger.
"We already co-locate together at New York’s JFK airport and moving some of Delta’s key business flights to join Virgin Atlantic at Heathrow’s Terminal 3 will enhance convenience, and reduce connection times.
"This demonstrates how our new partnership is going to be making a real difference for customers."
Delta, in co-operation with Virgin Atlantic, will also operate a second daily service between Heathrow and Detroit Metropolitan Airport from June 2.
The service will be particularly appealing to corporate customers needing an early morning arrival into London while offering more schedule choice for customers between London and the US Midwest.
This additional flight will complement Delta’s previously announced new West Coast route between Seattle and Heathrow, which will launch on March 30.
Virgin is also making significant schedule changes. It is moving its VS1 Heathrow to Newark service from a late afternoon departure to a morning departure to allow business travellers to hold ‘same-day meetings’ in the New Jersey area, while an earlier departure on the return flight means passengers can be in central London for the start of the working day.
The new schedule will include departures every 30 minutes during the early evening peak and then hourly until 22:30 from JFK to Heathrow and a spread of seven daily flights from Heathrow to JFK, including two late afternoon and early evening departures.
It also includes two departures to and from Newark.
Virgin Atlantic’s Boston service will depart two hours later in the afternoon as Delta’s flight will leave in the morning. Virgin Atlantic’s evening departure from Boston will also move two hours later.
"A key reason for our joint venture was to offer customers more choice and convenient schedules, especially for our business travellers," said Delta president Ed Bastian.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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