Virgin Atlantic Airways is being coaxed to join the SkyTeam alliance

Virgin Atlantic Airways Airbus A340-313 G-VSUN (msn 114) LHR (Keith Burton), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.

Virgin Atlantic Airways (London) is attracting new interest from Air France-KLM and Delta Air Lines as a possible new member of the SkyTeam alliance. Virgin has remained independent but the new British Airways-Iberia-American Airlines alliance has forced it to look at other options.

Read the full article by the Associated Press:

CLICK HERE

Like this:

Like Loading...

This entry was posted in Virgin Atlantic Airways and tagged Virgin Atlantic Airways on February 21, 2011 by Bruce Drum.

About Bruce Drum

I have started the ultimate digital photo library of the fascinating world of airliners and airlines. The goal is to have the complete history of all airlines and the various aircraft operated. I have been photographing airplanes since 1965. Join us in this adventure.

View all posts by Bruce Drum →

← JAL introduces the “Samantha Thavasa” logojet SriLankan Airlines considers a switch to the Boeing 777 →

Email Address

Join 3,104 other subscribers

CrashPad411.com - CrashPads, Housing & Rentals

Proudly Serving 44,804 fellow in-flight crew members in 51 cities. With 4,097 temporary and short time, airline rentals, accomodations and CrashPad listings!
www.crashpad411.com

Airline News...

Air New Zealand will introduce its Economy Skynest in 2026, offering the first lie‑flat sleeping pods ever made available to Economy and Premium Economy passengers on any airline. The produc ...
United-American mega merger? Scott Kirby’s long‑standing view that the U.S. airline industry cannot sustain its current competitive structure, but the idea itself is almost certainly unworka ...
Can it stay in business? Flybondi has entered one of the most serious labor and financial crises in its short history after failing to pay March 2026 salaries to its workforce. The delay bec ...
Condor’s partnership with TAROM and its simultaneous decision to withdraw from Abu Dhabi illustrate two very different forces shaping the airline’s strategy in 2026. On April 1, 2026, Condor ...
HK Express, the group’s low‑cost subsidiary, is being hit even harder because its business model depends on high utilization and low operating costs. Beginning May 11, the airline will cut a ...

Air Calédonie entered one of the darkest periods in its history when it filed for bankruptcy on March 27, 2026, after nearly a month of being unable to operate any flights. The shutdown was ...
ITA Airways officially returned to London Heathrow Airport on March 29, 2026, restoring nonstop service to Rome's Fiumicino Airportwith two daily flights after a two‑year absence. The airlin ...
European low‑cost carriers are reacting differently. Ryanair, with one of Europe’s most aggressive hedging programs and a young 737 fleet, is likely to maintain most of its schedule while pu ...
Rising jet fuel prices in Europe have doubled within weeks, driven by supply disruptions linked to the Iran–Hormuz crisis and Europe’s heavy dependence on imported refined product. With seve ...
Delta Air Lines flight DL104, with the pictured Airbus A330‑323 registered as N813NW, was departing São Paulo–Guarulhos Airport for Atlanta on the night of March 29, 2026, when it suffered a ...

Emirates says it is only days away from restoring its full global network as airspace across the region continues to reopen. The airline has already rebuilt a large portion of its schedule a ...
The UAE’s activation of safe air corridors reflects a coordinated regional effort to restore controlled air traffic after several days of severe disruption. During a government media briefin ...
LOT Polish Airlines has begun introducing onboard Wi‑Fi across its long‑haul fleet, activating the service first on the pictured Boeing 787‑9 Dreamliner SP‑LSA and planning to equip two addi ...
American Airlines remains one of the most exposed major carriers because it still flies older A319s, 737‑800s, and 777‑200ERs—types that burn significantly more fuel per seat than the newer ...
Which U.S. airlines are most at risk with rising fuel costs? The escalating conflict involving Iran is now directly reshaping aviation across the Persian Gulf, creating one of the most unsta ...

"Footnotes of Airline Histories" Part 1 (A - I) - Interesting events and stories

Aer Lingus' British experiment: Aer Lingus UK operated from October 20, 2021 until March 31, 2026, ending its Manchester‑based long‑haul operation when Aer Lingus consolidated all widebody f ...
Air Philippines was established on February 13, 1995, by Filipino industrialist William Gatchalian, known as the “Plastic King” for his diversified business empire. The airline was created ...
AdamAir emerged during the explosive growth phase of Indonesia’s low‑cost airline market in the early 2000s. The airline was established in 2003 as PT. Adam SkyConnection Airlines, wholly o ...
The history of Sri Lanka's national airline is a story of evolution, strategic partnerships, and resilience in a dynamic aviation landscape. It begins with the establishment of Air Lanka, ri ...
Air Siam originated in September 1965 as Varan Air‑Siam, created by Prince Varanand, who held a 90% ownership stake and was motivated by patriotic and political concerns. He believed that f ...

Aer Lingus' British experiment: Aer Lingus UK operated from October 20, 2021 until March 31, 2026, ending its Manchester‑based long‑haul operation when Aer Lingus consolidated all widebody f ...
Air Philippines was established on February 13, 1995, by Filipino industrialist William Gatchalian, known as the “Plastic King” for his diversified business empire. The airline was created ...
AdamAir emerged during the explosive growth phase of Indonesia’s low‑cost airline market in the early 2000s. The airline was established in 2003 as PT. Adam SkyConnection Airlines, wholly o ...
The history of Sri Lanka's national airline is a story of evolution, strategic partnerships, and resilience in a dynamic aviation landscape. It begins with the establishment of Air Lanka, ri ...
Air Siam originated in September 1965 as Varan Air‑Siam, created by Prince Varanand, who held a 90% ownership stake and was motivated by patriotic and political concerns. He believed that f ...

"Footnotes of Airline Histories" Part 2 (J - Z) - Interesting events and stories

Modern Air Transport-MAT began operations in the early 1960s as a Miami‑based charter carrier specializing in both civilian and military contract work. Its initial fleet consisted of Lockhe ...
JAS' special "Peter Pan Flight" livery: The Peter Pan Flight was one of Japan Air System’s most imaginative and emotionally driven special‑livery projects, created not just as a marketing ex ...
The rainbow liveries of JAS-Japan Air System’s MD‑90‑30 fleet were one of the most distinctive visual identities ever created for a commercial airline, and their story is unusually artistic, ...
JAS - Japan Air System’s history stretches from the fragmented postwar domestic airlines of the 1960s to its final day as an independent carrier in 2004. Its roots go back to April 15, 1964 ...
Kiwi International Air Lines emerged from the ashes of Eastern and Pan Am, created by airline professionals who refused to abandon the industry after their former employers collapsed. Many h ...

This Day in Airline History:

Taban Air flight HH6437 was operating a domestic service from Abadan to Mashhad on January 24, 2010, using the pictured Tupolev Tu‑154M registered as RA‑85787. The flight had already been de ...
"Flagship Erie". American Airlines flight AA327 was a long multi‑stop transcontinental service operating from Providence, Rhode Island, to Tulsa, Oklahoma, with ten scheduled intermediate st ...
American Airlines flight AA6780 was a multi‑stop service from Buffalo to Newark with scheduled stops in Rochester and Syracuse. On January 22, 1952, the aircraft—a Convair 240‑0, registratio ...
Ex Ryanair EI-CSW. Ethiopian Airlines flight ET409 was a scheduled overnight service from Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport to Addis Ababa on January 25, 2010, operated by the pictur ...
American Airlines’ inauguration of jet transcontinental service on January 25, 1959 marked a decisive turning point in U.S. commercial aviation. Flight AA2, operating from Los Angeles to New ...

Airline News...Top Stories

World Airline News Top Stories

Frontier Airlines adds frequencies to Boston and New York
A tequila brand to expand into the UK airline market, will it work with high fuel prices?
The "Bikini Airline" issues its 2018 calendar
Allegiant helps to promote "The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants" with a new livery on N207NV
40 Years of Connecting Communities in Finland
Southwest Airlines introduces its new cabin design on Boeing 737-8 MAX 8 N8972S
Spirit Airlines announces three new routes from Los Angeles
Lufthansa will paint six aircraft in its special 100th year livery
Air Karachi is set to start operations in 2026
Cirium: Analysis of the Middle East airspace closures

Hot New Photos

Hot New Photos – The Top 100

Airliners Gallery - RSS

Hot New Photos – Top 100

"Excellence 2026" - Air Canada’s “Excellence 2026” special livery on Boeing 777‑333ER C‑FIVM (msn 35251) is a dedicated salute and thank‑you to Air Canada’s employees, created to highlight t ... April 22, 2026
Bruce Drum (AirlinersGallery.com)"Excellence 2026" - Air Canada’s “Excellence 2026” special livery on Boeing 777‑333ER C‑FIVM (msn 35251) is a dedicated salute and thank‑you to Air Canada’s employees, created to highlight the people behind the airline’s operational and service achievements. This isn’t a marketing tie‑in or a tourism promotion — it’s an internal recognition theme meant […]
Vueling’s pictured Tour de France aircraft is built around a simple idea: Barcelona is no longer just a host city — it is now part of the Tour’s story. With the 2026 Grand Départ officially ... April 21, 2026
Bruce Drum (AirlinersGallery.com)Vueling’s pictured Tour de France aircraft is built around a simple idea: Barcelona is no longer just a host city — it is now part of the Tour’s story. With the 2026 Grand Départ officially awarded to Barcelona, the city becomes the starting point of the world’s most famous cycling race for the […]
Turkish Airlines unveiled this 500th aircraft, an Airbus A350‑941 registered as TC‑LHH, on February 13, 2026, during a large ceremony at Istanbul Airport that highlighted the airline’s ident ... April 20, 2026
Bruce Drum (AirlinersGallery.com)Turkish Airlines unveiled this 500th aircraft, an Airbus A350‑941 registered as TC‑LHH, on February 13, 2026, during a large ceremony at Istanbul Airport that highlighted the airline’s identity as a national institution shaped by its people. Named “TK Family,” the aircraft carries a special livery composed of photographs of 100,000 employees and retirees, […]
Copa Airlines’ newest Boeing 737‑8 MAX 8, registered as HP‑9819CMP, has emerged in this vivid all‑red special livery built around the identity of Panama’s national football team. The tail em ... April 20, 2026
Bruce Drum (AirlinersGallery.com)Copa Airlines’ newest Boeing 737‑8 MAX 8, registered as HP‑9819CMP, has emerged in this vivid all‑red special livery built around the identity of Panama’s national football team. The tail emblem is the official crest of FEPAFUT, the Panama Football Federation, featuring a stylized golden harpy eagle with a shield on its chest and […]
Brussels Airlines introduced this newest Belgian Icon in February 2026 with the unveiling of the pictured Airbus A320‑214 OO‑SNJ in a full aircraft livery themed “We fly you to the home of T ... April 16, 2026
Bruce Drum (AirlinersGallery.com)Brussels Airlines introduced this newest Belgian Icon in February 2026 with the unveiling of the pictured Airbus A320‑214 OO‑SNJ in a full aircraft livery themed “We fly you to the home of Tintin.” The design is built around the lunar‑exploration universe from Destination Moon and Explorers on the Moon, using a deep space […]
Cathay Pacific Airways and the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority introduced this new special livery, “Spirit of Hong Kong – 80th Anniversary Edition,” in March 2026 created to celebra ... April 15, 2026
Bruce Drum (AirlinersGallery.com)Cathay Pacific Airways and the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority introduced this new special livery, “Spirit of Hong Kong – 80th Anniversary Edition,” in March 2026 created to celebrate Cathay’s 80th anniversary and highlight Hong Kong’s artistic identity. The project builds on the partnership formed in 2023, with Cathay serving as WestK’s Travel […]
First 787-8 in the new livery: Air India’s Boeing 787‑8 retrofit program represents one of the most visible steps in the airline’s fleet‑modernization strategy, and the first aircraft to eme ... April 13, 2026
Bruce Drum (AirlinersGallery.com)First 787-8 in the new livery: Air India’s Boeing 787‑8 retrofit program represents one of the most visible steps in the airline’s fleet‑modernization strategy, and the first aircraft to emerge from the program—the pictured VT‑ANT—became the milestone aircraft that set the tone for the rest of the Dreamliner upgrades. The project was designed […]
EgyptAir to become a new 737-8 MAX 8 operator pending first delivery in April 2026. EgyptAir currently has 18 Boeing 737‑8 MAX aircraft on order, according to the deal announced at the 2023 ... April 9, 2026
Bruce Drum (AirlinersGallery.com)EgyptAir to become a new 737-8 MAX 8 operator pending first delivery in April 2026. EgyptAir currently has 18 Boeing 737‑8 MAX aircraft on order, according to the deal announced at the 2023 Dubai Airshow, where the airline committed to 18 MAX 8s through Air Lease Corporation (ALC). Deliveries are scheduled across 2026-2027, […]
Saudia unveiled this “Saudi, Welcome to Arabia” special livery on January 18, 2026, as part of a major joint tourism‑promotion campaign with the Saudi Tourism Authority. The aircraft chosen ... April 6, 2026
Bruce Drum (AirlinersGallery.com)Saudia unveiled this “Saudi, Welcome to Arabia” special livery on January 18, 2026, as part of a major joint tourism‑promotion campaign with the Saudi Tourism Authority. The aircraft chosen for the design was the pictured Boeing 787‑9 Dreamliner registered as HZ‑ARF, which became the flagship for a year‑round global branding effort aimed at […]
Virgin Australia has unveiled this striking red and white retro livery on its newest Boeing 737‑8, VH‑8VI, marking a major dual milestone: the 150th Boeing 737 delivered to the airline since ... April 3, 2026
Bruce Drum (AirlinersGallery.com)Virgin Australia has unveiled this striking red and white retro livery on its newest Boeing 737‑8, VH‑8VI, marking a major dual milestone: the 150th Boeing 737 delivered to the airline since 2000 and the 100th 737 in its current fleet. The aircraft rolled out of Boeing’s Seattle factory in late March 2026 wearing […]
SAS marks the start of its 80th year of operations in 2026 with a specially painted Airbus A330-343, the pictured LN-RKR, celebrating eight decades of connecting Scandinavia with the world. ... March 31, 2026
Bruce Drum (AirlinersGallery.com)SAS marks the start of its 80th year of operations in 2026 with a specially painted Airbus A330-343, the pictured LN-RKR, celebrating eight decades of connecting Scandinavia with the world. Throughout 2026, the airline will highlight its heritage and continued role in linking people, businesses and societies. The anniversary comes 80 years after […]
First Boeing 737-8 MAX 8 for Skymark Airlines: Skymark Airlines is preparing to introduce the Boeing 737‑8 MAX into its fleet much sooner than originally outlined in its long‑term order plan ... March 29, 2026
Bruce Drum (AirlinersGallery.com)First Boeing 737-8 MAX 8 for Skymark Airlines: Skymark Airlines is preparing to introduce the Boeing 737‑8 MAX into its fleet much sooner than originally outlined in its long‑term order plan, with the first aircraft, JA738A, now in flight testing at Boeing and scheduled for delivery in April 2026. This aircraft marks the […]
SunExpress introduced the pictured “South London & Proud – The Eagles Fly” special livery on Boeing 737‑8 TC‑SMF in March 2026 as part of its expanding partnership with Crystal Palace FC. Th ... March 26, 2026
Bruce Drum (AirlinersGallery.com)SunExpress introduced the pictured “South London & Proud – The Eagles Fly” special livery on Boeing 737‑8 TC‑SMF in March 2026 as part of its expanding partnership with Crystal Palace FC. The design was selected through a fan vote that overwhelmingly favored this bold, eagle‑themed concept, making it one of the club’s most […]
1st A350: EgyptAir’s Airbus A350‑941 fleet marks a major step in its long‑haul modernization strategy, with deliveries beginning in early 2026 and continuing through 2029. The first aircraft ... March 21, 2026
Bruce Drum (AirlinersGallery.com)1st A350: EgyptAir’s Airbus A350‑941 fleet marks a major step in its long‑haul modernization strategy, with deliveries beginning in early 2026 and continuing through 2029. The first aircraft, the pictured SU‑GGE, had its first flight on January 22, 2026 and was delivered on February 9, 2026. It was followed by SU‑GGH (msn 776), […]
FlyTec is a new regional airline in Argentina that has begun positioning itself as a specialist operator for remote, high‑altitude, and industrial support flying—particularly for the country ... March 12, 2026
Bruce Drum (AirlinersGallery.com)FlyTec is a new regional airline in Argentina that has begun positioning itself as a specialist operator for remote, high‑altitude, and industrial support flying—particularly for the country’s mining sector. The airline entered the public spotlight on March 11, 2026, when it took delivery of its first de Havilland Canada DHC-8‑402, becoming the first […]
The A380 in the special "100 Years" livery March 8, 2026
Bruce Drum (AirlinersGallery.com)The A380 in the special "100 Years" livery
MNG Airlines' 2025 special "Go Green" livery March 6, 2026
Bruce Drum (AirlinersGallery.com)MNG Airlines' 2025 special "Go Green" livery
Royal Air Maroc’s CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 promotional markings on Boeing 737‑8 CN‑MAX were introduced in November 2025 as part of a nationwide effort to showcase Morocco’s rol ... March 6, 2026
Bruce Drum (AirlinersGallery.com)Royal Air Maroc’s CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 promotional markings on Boeing 737‑8 CN‑MAX were introduced in November 2025 as part of a nationwide effort to showcase Morocco’s role as host of the 2025 tournament and to project the event’s branding across the airline’s most visible international routes. The aircraft became […]
2026 special "28 by 28 - The next EU member" markings: Montenegro’s push toward European Union membership has become the central organizing principle of its foreign and domestic policy, and ... March 6, 2026
Bruce Drum (AirlinersGallery.com)2026 special "28 by 28 - The next EU member" markings: Montenegro’s push toward European Union membership has become the central organizing principle of its foreign and domestic policy, and by 2026 it stands as the most advanced EU‑candidate country in the Western Balkans. The accession process has reached its most demanding phase, […]
Rolled out on March 3, 2026 in the "100 Years" special livery March 4, 2026
Bruce Drum (AirlinersGallery.com)Rolled out on March 3, 2026 in the "100 Years" special livery