
Our story
Since Virgin Atlantic launched, it’s held the imagination of the travelling public
It’s easy to look to things like innovative products and services, glamorous destinations and charismatic crew in bright red uniforms as the reasons for our success. But these are just part of our story. The personality and language of our brand plays a major role too, and to get a grasp on why, it’s useful to look at our past.
When we first started flying in 1984, the world was changing rapidly. In the UK, boom time had arrived, and a lot of people had more money to spend, with a greater desire to explore the world. The airline world hadn’t changed much at all and there wasn’t much choice, each country only had its state owned legacy airline. Expensive, with little emphasis on the customers’ needs, if you needed to get somewhere, you only had one airline to choose from. And what a dull, grey experience that was.
The time was right for someone to come in and shake things up. And did we ever.
With a parent brand that had owned a music label and record stores, we used marketing and public relations to our advantage. Using the same skill we’d developed promoting the likes of Culture Club and Simple Minds, we set out to inspire the public to fly with us. We flew to desirable destinations. We came up with innovative new products and services that would make the journey much more fun. We hired happy people with lively personalities to be our cabin crew. And we didn’t charge the earth.
We gave people a choice. A bright red, fun, friendly, fabulous choice that made travel attainable for everyone. Back then, our personality was cheeky and over the top. We were a tiny airline up against much bigger players. We needed to use quite radical language to get attention. We were the airline that loudly proclaimed ‘BA doesn’t give a shiatsu’ to promote our onboard massages. ‘Play with yourself’ was the way we chose to advertise the first ever seatback games. Not exactly subtle, but it got us noticed.
Richard Branson, our enthusiastic chairman, did anything to get attention for his businesses, including hot air ballooning, abseiling down Manhattan high rises or kissing Spice Girls. The more he got in the news for his adventures, the more Virgin Atlantic became renowned as the airline you flew if you wanted an adventure. His personality became our airline’s personality. ‘Screw it, let’s do it’ was Richard’s philosophy, and it served us well too as we grew, launching new destinations and taking on the airline world with our emphasis on exceptional service. As we arrived in new markets, his fame had often beaten us there, and it was easy for us to tap into his personality to establish ours.
Throughout the 80s and early 90s, we continued to lead the pack. Sleepy legacy carriers were too slow, or too entrenched in their ways to catch up with us. And even if they did, we’d dream up something even more innovative. As our business established itself in markets appealing to business travellers, then our personality slowly had to change too. The cheeky language we’d employed to encourage people to fly with us on their holidays was no longer quite as appropriate to talk to a business audience. That said, we still managed to promote our seatback screens as ‘nine inches of pure pleasure.’
But as much as people enjoyed flying with us, we didn’t fly everywhere, so they often had to fly with somebody else. Eventually, our success led to the rest of the airline world starting to match our products and service. So the differences started to become, well, not that different.
As well as that, alliances like oneworld® and the Star Alliance arrived on the scene, with legacy carriers linking together to offer their passengers access to an even greater network, seamless travel and reciprocal frequent flyer benefits. While we made some moves to link up with others, we felt our strength was in our independence.
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13 Jul 22
NEWS
Virgin Atlantic unveils new Airbus A330neo interiorsVirgin Atlantic has revealed its highly anticipated Airbus A330neo. The airline’s Upper Class cabin offers ...Read moreVirgin Atlantic unveils new Airbus A330neo interiors - News & announcementsVirgin Atlantic has revealed its highly anticipated Airbus A330neo. The airline’s Upper Class cabin offers brand new seats and the Retreat Suite, the most spacious suite in Virgin Atlantic’s history. Customers in Premium and Upper Class can take advantage of in-seat wireless charging, whilst customers in every cabin enjoy a greater number of USB connections, and Bluetooth enabled entertainment systems. In 2019, Virgin Atlantic announced a firm order for up to 16 Airbus A330neos. The A330-900 neos are designed to be 11% more fuel and carbon efficient. Virgin Atlantic’s A330neo is expected to take off to Boston on its first customer flight in early October. Tickets will go on sale later this month. In addition to The Retreat Suite, the A330neo will offer 30 brand new Upper Class suites. The fully forward-facing suite offers more space alongside a fully closing door with a ‘do not disturb’ feature. It has passenger-controlled mood lighting and 17.3” touchscreen TV. The airline’s social space, The Loft, remains a focal point of the cabin design. In an evolution of design from the Airbus A350, it consists of space for eight people, with four comfortable seats. Customers can also connect Bluetooth headphones to the dual panoramic 27” touchscreens or utilise the wireless charging facilities for their devices. The new Economy cabin features the largest ever economy screen at 13.3”, with Bluetooth audio. Customers have the choice between 28 Economy Delight seats, which offer an increased 34” seat pitch, or 156 Economy Classic seats with a 31” pitch. Corneel Koster, Chief Customer and Operating Officer at Virgin Atlantic, said:” We’re proud to show the evolution of our customer experience, with each of our customers receiving a premium experience regardless of the cabin. “The A330neo plays a significant role in our multi-billion dollar fleet transformation.” -
30 Jun 22
NEWS
Virgin Atlantic adds member award seat guaranteeVirgin Atlantic is increasing the availability of reward seats with two new initiatives. The changes ...Read moreVirgin Atlantic adds member award seat guarantee - News & announcementsVirgin Atlantic is increasing the availability of reward seats with two new initiatives. The changes are set to unlock more opportunities to spend Virgin points across the airline’s global network. The airline is launching its Guaranteed Availability initiative, which ensures reward seats are available for every Flying Club member, on every flight. Gold members also have a new benefit of Gold Reward Seats, which gives the option to turn any seat into a reward seat by using double Virgin Points. Guaranteed Availability will see a minimum of 12 reward seats offered on every flight across Virgin Atlantic’s global network. This includes two seats in Upper Class, two in Premium and eight in Economy, pffering increased availably for all members. Reward seats arre available to book as soon as the flight goes on sale. It includes peak times such as Christmas and school summer holidays. Gold Reward Seats offer options even when no reward seat is available Customers will be able to convert any seat on the plane, simply by using double Virgin Points. The new initiative is exclusive to Gold Card members and seats can be booked up to 60 days prior to departure. If a member cannot find a reward seat available online on their desired dates, and they have a sufficient points balance, they can call the dedicated Gold Card booking line to secure their seat. Siobhan Fitzpatrick, Chief Digital and Marketing Officer at Virgin Atlantic, said: “We knew our customers wanted more opportunities to spend their hard-earned points and we are ensurng they have more ways to do so.” -
09 Jun 22
NEWS
Virgin Atlantic lands in AustinVirgin Atlantic marked the launch of its new direct services to Austin, the airline’s first ...Read moreVirgin Atlantic lands in Austin - News & announcementsVirgin Atlantic marked the launch of its new direct services to Austin, the airline’s first new route to the US since 2017. The flight was met by Mookie Patel, Chief Business and Finance Officer, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, welcoming Sir Richard Branson and Juha Jarvinen, Chief Commercial Officer at Virgin Atlantic. Sir Richard Branson, President of Virgin Atlantic and Founder of Virgin Group said: “It’s an honour to be here to welcome Virgin Atlantic’s very first flight to Austin. We are looking forward to providing a stronger connection between Austin and London.” We are already seeing a lot of interest from people in the UK wanting to visit Austin, and vice versa. Austin is a fantastic addition to Virgin Atlantic’s route network.” “Austin is our first new US route since 2017 and we know it’s impressive food, arts and music scene has already caught the eye of our customers,” Juha Jarvinen, Chief Commercial Officer at Virgin Atlantic said. Virgin Atlantic flies from London Heathrow to Austin four times a week 787-9 aircraft featuring 31 Upper Class, 35 Premium and 192 Economy Delight, Classic and Light seats. Due to strong demand this will increase to daily from spring 2023. -
26 May 22
NEWS
Virgin Atlantic offering sweet treats to mark Platinum JubileeVirgin Atlantic is celebrating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee next weekend in its own inimitable way. Customers ...Read moreVirgin Atlantic offering sweet treats to mark Platinum Jubilee - News & announcementsVirgin Atlantic is celebrating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee next weekend in its own inimitable way. Customers flying to the US and Caribbean over the long holiday weekend will be treated to extra special delicacies to celebrate Her Majesty’s historic 70-year reign. Those travelling in Virgin Atlantic’s Economy class will be served a milk chocolate crown lolly wrapped and tied with a festive red ribbon. Premium and Upper Class customers will be offered a Platinum Jubilee Mile High Tea, including a duo of finger sandwiches and a selection of mini patisseries. The cakes will be a Victoria sponge financier, a chocolate and tonka macaron, and a vanilla and strawberry Battenberg with Virgin Atlantic purple-coloured marzipan. A quintessentially English cocktail will accompany the Mile High Tea, using Hambledon English Sparkling Wine and Fever-Tree sweet British Rhubarb and Raspberry tonic. The beverage will also be available in the Virgin Atlantic London Heathrow Clubhouse. Celebrations are also stretching to the United States, with Virgin Atlantic Clubhouses across America also honouring the Platinum Jubilee. -
24 May 22
NEWS
Virgin Atlantic returning to Cape TownVirgin Atlantic is returning to Cape Town with a new daily service. The route takes ...Read moreVirgin Atlantic returning to Cape Town - News & announcementsVirgin Atlantic is returning to Cape Town with a new daily service. The route takes off on 5 November 2022. The service will operate on a Boeing 787-9 with fares starting from £711 economy return. The aircraft has three classes, Upper Class, Premium and Economy. The new winter service runs until 24 March 2022, complementing the existing year-round daily service to Johannesburg. Juha Jarvinen, Chief Commercial Officer at Virgin Atlantic said: “We’re excited to return to Cape Town.” “We’re expecting a high proportion of leisure travellers on this route who will rightly be taking advantage of the winter sun, exploring the world-renowned wine regions and soaking up the rich culture.” -
23 May 22
NEWS
Virgin Atlantic axes Edinburgh flights to BarbadosBarbados Tourism Marketing Inc reacted with disappointment to Virgin Atlantic dropping its winter 2022-23 service ...Read moreVirgin Atlantic axes Edinburgh flights to Barbados - News & announcementsBarbados Tourism Marketing Inc reacted with disappointment to Virgin Atlantic dropping its winter 2022-23 service from Edinburgh to Bridgetown. However, BTMI remains upbeat on prospects for next winter. Affected customers will automatically be booked on to a Manchester service, Virgin said,’ with all reasonable transport costs to and from Manchester reimbursed.’ Virgin Atlantic operates seasonally from Manchester to Barbados, three times a week. The airline will also the option of a voucher or a full refund. BTMI said it will continue to work closely with Virgin Atlantic on both their Manchester Airport and London Barbados services. Scots visitors have numerous options flying to Bridgetown, with both Aer Lingus and Virgin Atlantic fly direct to Barbados from Manchester, and connections from multiple Scottish airports via London Heathrow to Barbados with British Airways. Barbados had a successful winter 2021-22 season with visitor numbers back to 2019 levels. The Barbados Summer Savings campaign launched by BTMI in March is having a positive impact with strong hotel and flight demand from the UK for the summer months. BTMI’s Barbados Summer Savings campaign offers consumers discounts of up to 55% when booking on BarbadosSummerSavings.com. -
27 Apr 22
NEWS
Virgin Voyages’ Resilient Lady heading Down UnderVirgin Voyages’ newest ship Resilient Lady will call Australia and New Zealand home in 2023. ...Read moreVirgin Voyages’ Resilient Lady heading Down Under - News & announcementsVirgin Voyages’ newest ship Resilient Lady will call Australia and New Zealand home in 2023. Resilient Lady will make her way Down Under via a 44-night trans-continental voyage in October 2023 from Athens to Sydney. The first 14-night stint visits Dubai, stopping at Santorini and Rhodes, before visiting Cairo and the Great Pyramid of Giza. From Dubai, Resilient Lady sails to Singapore via Mumbai and Goa, with the final 15-night voyage taking her to Sydney, via the South Pacific including an overnight in Bali. Resilient Lady will then arrive at her new home at Station Pier in Port Melbourne, Victoria. “Australia and New Zealand have a very special place in my heart and we can’t wait for them to meet Resilient Lady and experience all that she has to offer,” Virgin Group founder Sir Richard Branson said. Voyages from Station Pier in Port Melbourne will offer 2 to 14 night voyages with a mix of itineraries. New Zealand itineraries feature port stops in Auckland, Dunedin and Christchurch, with destinations across Australia including Hobart and Burnie and Sydney. Resilient Lady will sail through New Zealand and Australia from 11 December 2023 to 27 March 2024. Reservations are now open. -
15 Apr 22
NEWS
Virgin Atlantic ad campaign puts crew in limelightVirgin Atlantic launched a new brand and advertising campaign – the first in more than ...Read moreVirgin Atlantic ad campaign puts crew in limelight - News & announcementsVirgin Atlantic launched a new brand and advertising campaign – the first in more than two years since the Covid-19 pandemic. The campaign has been created in partnership with newly appointed advertising agency Lucky Generals and introduces the end line ‘See the world differently’. The line draws on the airline’s history of challenging the status quo – as well as recognising that the travel industry is entering an exciting new post-pandemic era. The campaign champions the airline’s people and customers, building on research showing that travellers find most airlines’ crew to be impersonal. The focus of the campaign is a colourful 60-second TV ad which focuses on a group of characters, at an airport and on board a A350-1000 plane, set to the song ‘I am what I am.’ There is also a print campaign made up of shots of Virgin Atlantic crew and customers, with lines championing their individuality. Shai Weiss, Virgin Atlantic CEO said: “At the core of our business is the understanding that every one of our people can be themselves at work. We know that the touchpoints that matter most and the experiences that differentiate Virgin Atlantic, are driven by our people.” Virgin Atlantic recently reinstated its full US schedule for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic, flying to destinations including New York, Los Angeles Miami, San Francisco, Orlando, Boston, Washington, and Seattle The airline launches new services to Austin, Texas on 25 May 2022. -
10 Apr 22
NEWS
Virgin Atlantic puts off HK return until SeptemberDespite Hong Kong relaxing flight curbs Virgin Atlantic won’t restart flights until at least September. ...Read moreVirgin Atlantic puts off HK return until September - News & announcementsDespite Hong Kong relaxing flight curbs Virgin Atlantic won’t restart flights until at least September. Hong Kong recently lifted a ban on inbound flights from nine countries, including the UK. Virgin said it took ‘the careful decision to extend the pause to ensure operational readiness for our London Heathrow–Hong Kong passenger services.’ British Airways said it won’t restart flights to Hong Kong until at least May 28. -
02 Apr 22
NEWS
Virgin Atlantic showcases ‘The Booth’ premium social spaceVirgin Atlantic has launched new premium on board experiences exclusively on its A350 fleet They ...Read moreVirgin Atlantic showcases ‘The Booth’ premium social space - News & announcementsVirgin Atlantic has launched new premium on board experiences exclusively on its A350 fleet They have been designed specifically with its leisure customers in mind. The Booth social space offers an array of enhanced experiences like wine and cognac tastings. The Booth is Virgin’s latest innovation in in-flight social spaces and is available on its A350s with a leisure configuration. Tucked away in the Upper Class cabin, The Booth offers comfy lounge style seating. It offers a number of experiences for two, including private dining as well as wine and cognac tasting. The wine tasting experience serves drinks by The Uncommon, a UK producer of wine in a can. Customers in The Booth can sample a curated selection of three wines from The Uncommon, which include an English White and Rose, alongside a lighter spritzer. A cognac tasting experience with chocolate pairings courtesy of Delamain is also available. Every customer taking part in the tasting experience will receive a tasting glass to keep as a memento. Other experiences include ‘Dinner for Two’ private dining for two and ‘Game Time’ playing card games.. Customers on the airline's London Heathrow to Orlando flights will be the first to experience the Booth. Corneel Koster, Chief Customer and Operations Officer at Virgin Atlantic, commented; “We always strive to create brilliantly different experiences for our customers and the introduction of The Booth demonstrates this perfectly.” “Whether that’s sampling the leading English wines from The Uncommon, sipping Delamain’s signature cognac or simply enjoying a game of rummy at 38,000 feet, we’ve got something on offer to suit every one of our customers’ tastes.” The Booth was designed collaboratively by Virgin Atlantic’s in-house design team alongside London design agency Factorydesign. -
01 Apr 22
Partner News
Virgin Atlantic Elevates Its Customer Experience As Its Latest A350 Takes To The SkiesAircraft will feature "The Booth”, a new social space for Upper Class customers Upper ...Read moreVirgin Atlantic Elevates Its Customer Experience As Its Latest A350 Takes To The Skies - News & announcements- Aircraft will feature "The Booth”, a new social space for Upper Class customers
- Upper Class customers can experience wine tasting with new drinks supplier, ‘The Uncommon’
- Customers on the Heathrow to Orlando services will be the first to try out the new experiences
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26 Mar 22
NEWS
Virgin Atlantic set to launch Edinburgh – Orlando flightsVirgin Atlantic’s first flight connecting Edinburgh and Orlando will take off for the first time ...Read moreVirgin Atlantic set to launch Edinburgh – Orlando flights - News & announcementsVirgin Atlantic’s first flight connecting Edinburgh and Orlando will take off for the first time on 30 March. Operating on an Airbus 330-300, it operates twice weekly. As the gateway to the highlands, the new service from Edinburgh Airport will provide travellers from Florida with a direct link to Scotland’s historic capital. Juha Jarvinen, Chief Commercial Officer at Virgin Atlantic, said; “Commencing flights from Edinburgh to Orlando marks an exciting new chapter for Virgin Atlantic and we couldn’t be happier to launch our second route from our new home in Scotland. Virgin launched direct service to Barbados last year. “Orlando is the theme park capital of the world and the heartland of Virgin Atlantic’s leisure program. I know our Scottish customers will love exploring the likes of Walt Disney World and Universal Studios alongside the array of experiences Orlando has to offer. “


