Virgin Atlantic Airways | World Airline News

This week, Virgin Atlantic launched flights to the start-up capital of India, Bengaluru, a key destination for US customers connecting onwards via London Heathrow from San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York JFK, Seattle, and more. With average connection times of one to two hours, the route promises optimal connectivity for those traveling for business or enjoying a vibrant city stay in India’s third most populous city.

In addition, the airline is delighted to add a second daily flight to Mumbai, signaling its continued commitment to the region. The new flight is the airline’s fifth daily service to India and complements its double daily services to Delhi and daily flights to Bengaluru.

From 2025, Virgin Atlantic will offer more than one million seats to the country, a 350% capacity growth since 2019, cementing India’s position as a key strategic market for the airline and marking its largest area of growth outside the United States. Alongside customer options, the increase in flying to Mumbai is also a huge boost for cargo operations, as the airline is set to carry an additional 25,000 tons of cargo from the fashion, pharmaceuticals, and tech sectors. With five daily services, Virgin Atlantic Cargo will offer 42.1million kg of space available to and from India which is a 336% increase in capacity versus 2019.

Beginning October 27, 2024 and on sale from April 6, 2024, the second daily Mumbai services will operate on the airline’s state-of-the-art Airbus A350-1000, offering Upper Class, Premium and Economy Delight, Classic and Light cabins as well as the airline’s signature Upper Class social space. It will also offer seamless connectivity and a premium long-haul experience for those customers connecting via London Heathrow from key gateways throughout the United States including San Francisco, New York JFK, Atlanta, Seattle, Boston, and Los Angeles, with Virgin Atlantic and transatlantic joint venture partner, Delta Air Lines.

In addition to offering seamless connectivity for US customers to three destinations in India, Virgin Atlantic has a strategic partnership with IndiGo, India’s leading airline. Customers can book one ticket which allows them to connect onwards to popular destinations in India such as Ahmedabad, Goa and Hyderabad through Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru. In total the partnership offers 36 additional destinations and has connected more than 80,000 customers to date.

New flight to Mumbai (subject to Government approval)

Flight Number	Launch Date	Departure Airport	Departure Time	Arrival Airport	Arrival Time	Aircraft
VS358	27-Oct-24	LHR	11:15	BOM2	01:55*	A350-1000 leisure
VS359	28-Oct-24	BOM2	04:10	LHR	08:55	A350-1000 leisure

Existing India schedule

Flight Number	Route	Timing	Aircraft
VS316	LHR – BLR	12:45 / 02:45	Boeing 787-9
VS317	BLR-LHR	04:35 / 10:45	Boeing 787-9
VS354	LHR – BOM1	19:00 / 08:55	Boeing 787-9
VS355	BOM1– LHR	10:45 / 16:05	Boeing 787-9
VS300	LHR – DEL1	20:30 / 09:30*	Boeing 787-9
VS301	DEL1 – LHR	11:20 / 16:35	Boeing 787-9
VS302	LHR – DEL2	10:30 / 23:55	Boeing 787-9
VS303	DEL2 – LHR	02:05 / 07:20	Boeing 797-9

US to India Connection Times

US Gateway	Connection Timing through LHR
ATL-DEL	3:20
ATL-BOM	1:05
ATL-BLR	1:10
BOS-DEL	1:25
BOS-BOM	2:15
LAX-DEL	1:50
LAX-BOM	2:15
JFK-DEL	1:30
JFK-BOM	1:10
JFK-BLR	3:20
SFO-DEL	3:20
SFO-BOM	2:00
SFO-BLR	1:10
SEA-DEL	1:20
SEA-BOM	1:45
SEA-BLR	2:00

Virgin Atlantic aircraft photo gallery:

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: