Virgin Atlantic Airways and Kenya Airways have announced a new codeshare partnership agreement, providing greater access to Nairobi and beyond into East Africa.
The first phase of the agreement, which was launched on March 19, 2024, will allow customers booking through Virgin Atlantic to directly purchase flights on Kenya Airways’ Heathrow to Nairobi service.
In turn, Kenya Airways customers will soon have the opportunity to connect via London Heathrow onto a number of Virgin Atlantic’s luxurious Caribbean destinations, including Barbados, The Bahamas, Grenada and St Vincent and the Grenadines.
Kenya Airways is one of the leading airlines in Africa and a fellow member of the SkyTeam alliance. Virgin Atlantic’s Gold and Silver Flying Club members, alongside Kenya Airways Asante Rewards Platinum and Gold members can take advantage of SkyPriority services at London Heathrow and Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, including priority check in, baggage handling and boarding.
Both airline’s membership of SkyTeam has also allowed Flying Club members to reach their rewards faster. Opportunities to earn Virgin Points and Tier Points, alongside Virgin Points redemptions, have been in place since March 2023.
Access to Kenya from the UK is now more accessible than ever before. From January this year, visitors from outside of Africa, including the United Kingdom, will only require an online authorisation to travel to Kenya, instead of a full visa.
As fellow members of the SkyTeam alliance, Virgin Atlantic and Kenya Airways also have a shared ethos on sustainability. In October 2022, Virgin Atlantic welcomed the first of 16 A330-900neos to the fleet, continuing its transformation towards 100% next generation aircraft by 2027. In November 2023, Virgin Atlantic led an industry consortium to deliver the first 100% SAF flight across the transatlantic demonstrating that 100% SAF can be used safely as a drop in fuel in existing infrastructure, engines and airframes. In May 2023, Kenya Airways also became the first African airline to fly possibly the most sustainable commercial long-haul flight from Nairobi to Amsterdam.
Virgin Atlantic aircraft photo gallery:
Kenya Airways aircraft photo gallery:
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