Virgin Airlines operates long haul routes between the UK and North America, Africa, the Caribbean, Australia, Asia, and the Middle East from its main bases at London Heathrow and London Gatwick and a secondary base at Manchester Airport, a leader in the industry, Virgin Airlines is known for its brashly British attitude. Owned by Richard Branson's Virgin Group and Singapore Airlines.
Virgin Atlantic utilizes over 35 aircraft and flies to approximately 30 world destinations. In addtion, it has code-sharing relationships with a variety of other airlines. Among them are Air China, Continental Airlines, Singapore Airlines and Virgin Blue, its siter company which is home-based in Australia. Virgin Atlantic is able to sell tickets on the flights offered by these code-sharing partneers.
Plans for two routes, one from London to the Falkland Islands in the aftermath of the Falkland War, and the other from London Gatwick to JFK Airport, were either scrapped or rejected. Plans were in the works for a route between London Gatwick and Newark Liberty International Airport, when it became necessary for the company to secure additional funding.Virgin Atlantic and its sister companies got their start in 1982 when American Randolph Fields teamed up with pilot Alan Hellary to launch British Atlantic Airways.
Fields and Branson struck an agreement after tortuous discussions which led to the formation of the airline currently known as Virgin Atlantic starting its first flight between Londan and Newark in June 1984. (Fields was later bought out.) A combination of funding from sister company Virgin Records and the timing of the agreement within the peak summer travel system allowed the company to make money in its first year of operation.
British Airways and Virgin Atlantic have always been competitors since the former was formed. After Virgin Atlantic obtained permission from the UK government from London Heathrow airport in January 1991, the competition became so intense that it sparked off BA's launch of its so-called "dirty tricks" against Virgin Atlantic. The campaign included libel lawsuits which were eventually settled out of court by BA after evidence of the extreme steps taken by BA to quash Virgin Atlantic were discovered by the latter's lawyers.
Some examples: Mine's Bigger Than Yours - painted on the back of the Airbus A340-600s because they are the longest passenger aircraft in the world. Virgin has never been shy about taking on its competition through its advertising.
Also promoted Virgins online check-in literally allowing passengers to avoid the queues,avoid the Q - Advertised Virgin's London to Hong Kong to Sydney route in opposition to Quantas which was operating the same route.
Branson vehemently asserts his displeasure with a potential British Airways/American Airlines partnership. Presently, Virgin Atlantic has three cabin classes. These classes include upper class, premium economy and economy. The upper class would be comparable to what most people know as a business class as cabin service is not provided. Unlike most airlines' business class, the seating in Virgin Atlantic's upper class boasts to be the largest flat bed.
Premium Economy passengers have a separate check-in and receive priority boarding ahead of Economy passengers. These seats are wider and provide more legroom than Economy accommodations. Most aircraft have been updated to include Premium Economy seating with laptop power. In Economy class, in-flight drinks are free, and an updated Economy seat with adjustable lumbar support has recently been added across the fleet.
Personal televisions mounted in the seat backs are available on all of the planes flown by Virgin Atlantic. Audio and video on demand systems are also installed on some of their aircraft. In addition, Virign Atlantic has various sister airlines. These are Virgin America, Virgin Blue, Virgin Express, Virgin Galactic, Virgin Nigeria Airways, Virgin Atlantic Global Flyer and V Australia., - 16752
Virgin Atlantic utilizes over 35 aircraft and flies to approximately 30 world destinations. In addtion, it has code-sharing relationships with a variety of other airlines. Among them are Air China, Continental Airlines, Singapore Airlines and Virgin Blue, its siter company which is home-based in Australia. Virgin Atlantic is able to sell tickets on the flights offered by these code-sharing partneers.
Plans for two routes, one from London to the Falkland Islands in the aftermath of the Falkland War, and the other from London Gatwick to JFK Airport, were either scrapped or rejected. Plans were in the works for a route between London Gatwick and Newark Liberty International Airport, when it became necessary for the company to secure additional funding.Virgin Atlantic and its sister companies got their start in 1982 when American Randolph Fields teamed up with pilot Alan Hellary to launch British Atlantic Airways.
Fields and Branson struck an agreement after tortuous discussions which led to the formation of the airline currently known as Virgin Atlantic starting its first flight between Londan and Newark in June 1984. (Fields was later bought out.) A combination of funding from sister company Virgin Records and the timing of the agreement within the peak summer travel system allowed the company to make money in its first year of operation.
British Airways and Virgin Atlantic have always been competitors since the former was formed. After Virgin Atlantic obtained permission from the UK government from London Heathrow airport in January 1991, the competition became so intense that it sparked off BA's launch of its so-called "dirty tricks" against Virgin Atlantic. The campaign included libel lawsuits which were eventually settled out of court by BA after evidence of the extreme steps taken by BA to quash Virgin Atlantic were discovered by the latter's lawyers.
Some examples: Mine's Bigger Than Yours - painted on the back of the Airbus A340-600s because they are the longest passenger aircraft in the world. Virgin has never been shy about taking on its competition through its advertising.
Also promoted Virgins online check-in literally allowing passengers to avoid the queues,avoid the Q - Advertised Virgin's London to Hong Kong to Sydney route in opposition to Quantas which was operating the same route.
Branson vehemently asserts his displeasure with a potential British Airways/American Airlines partnership. Presently, Virgin Atlantic has three cabin classes. These classes include upper class, premium economy and economy. The upper class would be comparable to what most people know as a business class as cabin service is not provided. Unlike most airlines' business class, the seating in Virgin Atlantic's upper class boasts to be the largest flat bed.
Premium Economy passengers have a separate check-in and receive priority boarding ahead of Economy passengers. These seats are wider and provide more legroom than Economy accommodations. Most aircraft have been updated to include Premium Economy seating with laptop power. In Economy class, in-flight drinks are free, and an updated Economy seat with adjustable lumbar support has recently been added across the fleet.
Personal televisions mounted in the seat backs are available on all of the planes flown by Virgin Atlantic. Audio and video on demand systems are also installed on some of their aircraft. In addition, Virign Atlantic has various sister airlines. These are Virgin America, Virgin Blue, Virgin Express, Virgin Galactic, Virgin Nigeria Airways, Virgin Atlantic Global Flyer and V Australia., - 16752
About the Author:
Tom Martens is the syndication coordinator for South Arica's leading Flight comparison portal, which includes Virgin Atlantic Airlines amongst others.
