Virgin Atlantic announces new codeshare partnerships with El Al plus SkyTeam partners SAS Scandinavian Airlines and Saudia.
Highlights:
* New codeshare with EL AL offers choice and connectivity on routes between the UK and Israel, and beyond to the US
* The airline will also partner with fellow SkyTeam members, SAS Scandinavian Airlines and Saudia, on new codeshares, boosting frequent flyer benefits
* Virgin Atlantic is set to return to Tel Aviv, bringing its award-winning customer service back to the route from 5 September 2024
Virgin Atlantic is today announcing three brand new codeshare partnerships which will launch this year, increasing connectivity and enhancing customer benefits, with the airline once again rewarding its most frequent flyers. It also announced its plan to return to Tel Aviv from 5 September 2024.
Virgin Atlantic partners with EL AL and sets date to return to Tel Aviv
Virgin Atlantic customers flying between the UK and Israel have been enjoying its experience since launch in September 2019. Today, the airline has confirmed that from 5 September 2024, it will resume flying between London Heathrow and Tel Aviv, for the first time since 11 October 2023. Flights will operate daily on board the airline's Airbus A330 aircraft, offering connections through Heathrow to 14 US destinations, on 33 daily flights, operated by Virgin Atlantic and partner Delta Air Lines.
Meanwhile, a new codeshare partnership with EL AL will offer more connections between the UK, US and Israel. The two airlines will place codes on their respective London Heathrow and Tel Aviv services, allowing customers greater flexibility, frequencies with up to four daily flights, and choice when selecting travel between the UK and Israel. The partnership will offer reciprocal earn and redemption opportunities, as well as premium customer recognition and tier benefits for frequent flyers, including Flying Club and EL AL's Matmid program. Virgin Atlantic customers will be able to travel on EL AL's services from Tel Aviv to Heathrow and connect onwards to the US, to reach 11 US destinations on 23 daily flights.
Team SkyTeam
Virgin Atlantic joined SkyTeam in March 2023 as the alliance's first and only UK member airline and is delighted to welcome SkyTeam's newest member, SAS Scandinavian Airlines, a fellow APEX five-star airline, into the SkyTeam Global Alliance. Virgin Atlantic and SAS Scandinavian Airlines are working towards new commercial partnerships with the best access to and from Scandinavian key hubs. This collaboration will offer new destinations, enhanced connectivity, and a more seamless, elevated customer journey for all travellers in the very near future. Virgin Atlantic's Flying Club members will receive instant earning and redeeming opportunities once SAS formally joins SkyTeam on 1 September 2024* and SAS EuroBonus members will be able to earn and redeem their points on Virgin Atlantic.
Further, a new codeshare with SkyTeam member Saudia has launched, in a move that will provide connectivity between Saudi Arabia and Virgin Atlantic destinations. The first phase of the agreement, which is now live, means Virgin Atlantic customers travelling on flights from the US can purchase seamless onward connections through London Heathrow and Manchester, onto Saudia's services to Jeddah and Riyadh. Opportunities to earn Virgin Points and Tier Points, alongside Virgin Points redemptions, have been in place since March 2023, with online redemptions launched last month. Saudia's AlFursan members can earn and redeem their points on Virgin Atlantic flights.
Juha Jarvinen, Chief Commercial Officer, Virgin Atlantic, commented:
'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. We're delighted to launch codeshares with our SkyTeam partners at SAS and Saudia today, enhancing our connectivity and offering greater customer benefits to our frequent flyers, who will be able to achieve rewards faster.
'Our return to Tel Aviv on 5 September 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.'
Partner Airline Launch Date/ on sale date Routes
EL AL Virgin Atlantic code on El Al - 10 June
El Al code on Virgin Atlantic - 5 September 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 email press.office@fly.virgin.com
About Virgin Atlantic
Virgin Atlantic was founded by entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson in 1984, with innovation and amazing customer service at its core. In 2023, Virgin Atlantic was voted Britain's only Global Five Star Airline by APEX for the seventh year running in the Official Airline Ratings. Headquartered in London, it employs more than 8,500 people worldwide, flying customers to 30 destinations across four continents throughout the year.
Alongside shareholder and Joint Venture partner Delta Air Lines, Virgin Atlantic operates a leading transatlantic network, with onward connections to over 200 cities around the world. In February 2020, Air France-KLM, Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic launched an expanded Joint Venture, offering a comprehensive route network, convenient flight schedules, competitive fares and reciprocal frequent flyer benefits, including the ability to earn and redeem miles across all carriers. Virgin Atlantic joined SkyTeam in March 2023 as the global airline alliance's first and only UK member airline, enhancing the alliance's transatlantic network and services to and from Heathrow and Manchester Airport.
Virgin Atlantic has been pioneering sustainability leadership for more than 15 years, committing to Net Zero by 2050 and continuous action that reduces environmental impact. The airline operates one of the youngest and most fuel-efficient fleets in the skies, with an average age under seven years. In October 2022, Virgin Atlantic welcomed the first of 16 A330-900neos to the fleet, continuing its transformation towards 100% next generation aircraft by 2028. In November 2023, the airline led a consortium to deliver the world's first flight across the Atlantic on 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), demonstrating that 100% SAF can be used safely as a drop in fuel in existing infrastructure, engines and airframes. The need to scale production is an industry imperative and Virgin Atlantic is committed to radical collaboration across the energy chain to support commercialisation ahead of 2030.
For more information visit www.virginatlantic.com or via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @virginatlantic.
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