Virgin Atlantic Airways
Encyclopedia
Virgin Atlantic Airways Limited (operating as Virgin Atlantic) is a British
airline owned by Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group
(51%) and Singapore Airlines
(49%). It is headquartered in Crawley
, West Sussex
, England
, near Gatwick Airport.
It operates between the United Kingdom
and North America
, the Caribbean
, Africa
, the Middle East
, Asia
, and Australia
from its bases at Gatwick Airport and London Heathrow Airport
using a mixed fleet of Airbus
and Boeing
widebodied
jet
s. Almost uniquely among major airlines, it operates no short-haul services whatsoever, with its shortest route being from London
to Accra
. In 2010, Virgin Atlantic carried 5.3 million passengers, making it the eighth largest UK airline based on passenger numbers. In the year to February 2010, the airline made an annual operating loss of £
132 million on turnover of £2,357 million.
, an American
-born lawyer, and Alan Hellary
, a former chief pilot for Laker Airways
, set up British Atlantic Airways as a successor to Laker Airways. Fields got the idea of an airline from London to the Falkland Islands
in June 1982, when the Falklands War
had just finished and there was need for a service. Fields needed expertise and contacted Alan Hellary, Laker Airways' former chief pilot, who had thought about establishing a regular, commercial service to the Falklands at the same time. Hellary was in contact with colleagues out of work following the collapse of Laker Airways and they worked on the idea.
However the short runway at Port Stanley Airport
and the time to improve it made the scheme unviable, so the idea of the Falklands service was dropped. Instead, Hellary and Fields tried to secure a licence from Gatwick Airport to John F. Kennedy Airport
(JFK) in New York
. A three-day inquiry in May 1983 rejected it after British Airways
(BA), British Caledonian
(BCal) and BAA objected.
Hellary and Fields then applied for a licence between Gatwick and Newark
. It was planned that British Atlantic Airways would use a 380-seat DC-10
to fly to Newark. However, faced with the prospect of direct competition from People Express, a post-deregulation
"no frills
" discount airline at Newark, they decided to secure more funding before proceeding.
Fields met Richard Branson
at a party in Central London
during which he proposed a business partnership. After protracted and testy negotiations, Fields agreed to a reduced stake of 25% in the airline (renamed Virgin Atlantic) and became first chairman. Following disagreements over operations, Fields agreed to be bought out for an initial sum of £1 million with further payment on Virgin's first dividend. As a result of a High Court
action, this additional payment was received shortly before Fields' death from cancer in 1997.
using a leased Boeing 747-200
(registration G-VIRG), christened Maiden Voyager, formerly operated by Aerolíneas Argentinas
. Part of Richard Branson's approach to business is to succeed within the first year or exit the market. This includes a one-year limit on everything associated with starting up. Virgin Atlantic became profitable during the first 12 months, aided by sister company Virgin Records
' ability to finance the lease of a second-hand Boeing 747. The firm timed operations to take advantage of a full summer, which included June to September – the most profitable period of the year.
In 1986, the airline added another Boeing 747 and started a scheduled route from Gatwick to Miami
. Additional aircraft were acquired and routes launched from Gatwick to New York JFK (1988), Tokyo
(1989), Los Angeles
(1990), Boston
(1991), and Orlando
(1992). In 1987, a service was launched between Luton
and Dublin
using Viscount
turboprop
aircraft, but this was withdrawn around 1990. In 1988, Club Air operated two Boeing 727
jet aircraft
on behalf of Virgin. These served the Luton
to Dublin route until ca. 1990 as well.
sold 49% of the airline's holding company to Singapore Airlines
for £600.25 million. Virgin Group still owns the remaining 51%.
In June 2002, Virgin Atlantic became the first airline to use the Airbus A340-600
.
In 2003, Virgin Atlantic carried 3.8 million passengers. This increased to 4.6 million in 2006, placing them seventh among UK
airlines (second in terms of passenger-miles because of the long-haul nature of operations). During the 2012 Summer Olympics bids, Virgin Atlantic attached London 2012 decal
s to the rear of many of their Boeing 747-400
s.
On 31 October 2005, Virgin Atlantic operated a humanitarian aid charter flight to the capital of Pakistan
, Islamabad
, with 55 tonnes of aid for the affected by the earthquake in Pakistan
.
Virgin volunteered a Boeing 747
for a test of biofuels. In February 2008, it flew from Heathrow to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, with no passengers, and 20% of power for one engine provided by plant-based biofuel. The airline said it expected to use biofuels based on algae
.
to begin a strategic
review of options for the airline following the tie-up between British Airways and American Airlines
. By February 2011, it was confirmed that SkyTeam
members Air France-KLM
and Delta Air Lines
had appointed Goldman Sachs
to advise them on a joint potential approach for Virgin Atlantic. Etihad Airways
is also reported to be considering a deal, and Willie Walsh, Chief Executive
of International Airlines Group
, stated that they would be interested in the airline, but only for the lucrative take-off and landing slots it holds at London Heathrow Airport.
, West Sussex
, England, near Gatwick Airport. The same building houses the corporate offices of Virgin Holidays
. Prior to the establishment of its current headquarters, Virgin Atlantic had its head office in Ashdown House on the High Street in Crawley.
since the BA-BCal merger in the late 1980s.
, granted permission.
The decision to open Heathrow to all newcomers in 1991 – other than those governed by Bermuda II
– angered BA's chairman Lord King
, who stopped British Airways' donations to the Conservative Party
in protest. Lord King was furthermore angered by the subsequent decision of the CAA to transfer two pairs of unused slots British Airways held at Tokyo
's Narita Airport
to Virgin to let it increase its frequency between Heathrow and Tokyo from four to six weekly round-trips, making it easier for Virgin to compete against British Airways. Lord King called the CAA's decision, which the Government had endorsed, "a confiscation of his company's property".
. Britain's Conservative
Government, which had presided over the collapse of International Leisure Group (ILG) and its subsidiary Air Europe
resulting in 4,000 job losses was aware that Dan-Air
was on the brink of bankruptcy, and wanted to avoid the collapse of another independentindependent from government-owned corporation
s British airline, especially if its profile was as high as Virgin Atlantic's. The Government decided to let Virgin Atlantic into Heathrow despite facing opposition from British Airways.
, published an article in BA News, British Airways' internal magazine, which argued that Branson's protests against British Airways were a publicity stunt. Branson sued British Airways for libel, using the services of George Carman
QC
. BA settled out of court when its lawyers found the lengths to which the company went to try to kill off Virgin. BA had to pay a legal bill of up to £3m, damages to Branson of £500,000 and a further £110,000 to his airline. Branson donated the proceeds from the case to Virgin Atlantic staff.
In the 1990s, Virgin Atlantic jets were painted with "No-Way BA/AA" in opposition to the attempted merger between British Airways
and American Airlines
.
In 1997, following British Airways' announcement that it was to remove the Union Flag
from its tailfins in favour of world images
, Virgin introduced a Union Flag design on the winglets of its aircraft and changed the red dress on the Scarlet Lady on the nose of aircraft to the union flag with the tag line "Britain's Flag Carrier
". This was a tongue-in-cheek challenge to BA's traditional role as the UK's flag carrier.
Relations with British Airways improved with the arrival of Rod Eddington
as BA CEO though rivalry continued. Eddington replaced Robert Ayling
, involved in the dirty tricks affair, who was dismissed by Lord Marshall
, the long-serving BA chairman and Ayling's mentor, on behalf of BA's main institutional shareholders after BA had its first net loss since privatisation during Ayling's time during its 1999/2000 financial year.
In June 2006, a tip-off from Virgin Atlantic led US
and UK competition authorities to investigate alleged price-fixing
between Virgin Atlantic and British Airways. In August 2007, BA was fined £271 million by the UK's Office of Fair Trading
and the US Department of Justice
though this was upheld on account of a guilty plea. Virgin Atlantic was not fined as it was given immunity for reporting the cartel to regulators.
investigating alleged price-fixing between Virgin Atlantic and Cathay Pacific on flights to Hong Kong
between 2002 and 2006. Cathay Pacific will benefit from immunity as long as they continue to cooperate with the authorities. A maximum fine if found guilty is 10% of turnover which based on the £2.5bn sales for the year to the February 2009 would be £250m. At this stage, the competition authorities stressed that it should not be assumed that the parties involved have broken the law.
Star Alliance
member airline
and Boeing
aircraft, with an average age of 9.4 years as of February 2011. Boeing 747-400s and Airbus A330
s are used on selected routes from Gatwick, Glasgow
and Manchester, with the A330
being used on other flights as well. Boeing 747s and Airbus A340
s are used interchangeably on all routes from Heathrow.
Virgin Atlantic has orders for Boeing 787–9 and Airbus A380
-800 aircraft for delivery beginning 2014 and 2015, respectively. The A380
was expected in service in 2006 but was delayed until 2009 because of problems within Airbus
. Virgin deferred its order to 2013, arguing it wanted the aircraft to prove itself before entering its own into operation.
The order for 15 Boeing 787-9s, with options
on eight more and purchase rights on 20 more, was announced on 24 April 2007. The aircraft will replace Virgin’s older A340-300s. Virgin has listed Seattle, Vancouver
, Bangkok
, and Melbourne as possible destinations for the aircraft, saying the 787 would make possible non-stop operations from London to Perth, Australia
and Honolulu, Hawaii.
Virgin is negotiating with Boeing and Airbus over an order for ten wide-bodied jets for the Gatwick fleet. This could be a new order for the Boeing 747-8
or for additional Airbus A380-800s.
On 27 September 2006, Branson announced plans to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions by cutting aircraft weight and fuel consumption. There was also an experiment in 2007 in partnership with Boeing to have aircraft towed to the runway to save fuel, as a potential change to future operational procedures.
Two Virgin Atlantic aircraft are featured in the James Bond film, Casino Royale
. One Airbus A340-600 (G-VWIN) and one Boeing 747-400 - along with Branson and Virgin Atlantic crew — are part of a scene at Miami International Airport
, although the sequence was filmed at Prague's Ruzyně International Airport
. Virgin Atlantic's relationship with the James Bond
franchise continues in Quantum Of Solace, where James Bond
and René Mathis travel to La Paz
, Bolivia on board Virgin Atlantic, in Upper Class, although the airline has never flown to any destination within South America.
Virgin Atlantic’s fleet consists of the following aircraft as of September 2011:
, designed by British artist Ken White, called Scarlet Lady. White modelled the motif on the World War II pin-ups of Alberto Vargas
– hence the naming one of the fleet Varga Girl.
Each aircraft has a name, usually feminine, such as Ladybird, Island Lady and Ruby Tuesday, but some are linked to registrations (e.g. G-VFIZ—Bubbles). There are a couple of commemorative names (e.g. G-VEIL—Queen of the Skies—which was named by Queen Elizabeth II on 7 April 2004 in celebration of the centenary of the Entente Cordiale
). An exception is Spirit of Sir Freddie. An early Boeing 747, it was named in honour of Freddie Laker
of Laker Airways
, who helped Virgin Atlantic run following the demise of his own airline. G-VFAB—Lady Penelope—gained a special livery to celebrate Virgin Atlantic’s 21st birthday. The Scarlet Lady was enlarged and moved to the rear of the aircraft, a Boeing 747–400, and the aircraft was temporarily renamed Birthday Girl. The aircraft made a special flight recreating the first Virgin Atlantic flight, from London to New York, with Richard Branson and a number of special guests onboard.
In 2010, the livery was replaced by a new design, featuring a larger logo and slight changes to the Scarlet Lady. The wingtips, previously carrying the Union flag, were repainted red, with the Virgin logo on the inside facing passengers onboard. The Virgin Atlantic logo was also added to the underside of the aircraft.
Used in the late 1990s on several 747-400s to express Branson's displeasure with the proposed British Airways
/American Airlines
partnership. BA/AA combined held 100% market share on several US-UK routes (e.g. Dallas-Fort Worth
to London), and a market share of more than 50% in several more (e.g. Chicago to London, JFK
to London). The slogan was brought back starting in September 2008 after merger talks between British Airways, Iberia Airlines
and American Airlines began.
Written on the back of the Airbus A340-600s because they were the longest passenger aircraft in the world. The new title of the longest passenger aircraft will be claimed by the Boeing 747-8
when it officially enters passenger service in 2011.
Originally an Airbus slogan when newer versions of the A340 were built until Virgin inherited the slogan. The slogan was written on the engines of the planes, because all Virgin's planes at the time had four engines as opposed to BA's long haul twin-jet Boeing 777
s and Boeing 767
s. The slogan was removed in 2006 because it "had run its course and it was time to move on"—Virgin would later order Boeing 787 Dreamliner twin-jet aircraft in 2007, as well as the Airbus A330-300, another twinjet, in 2009.
Introduced as part of the 25th anniversary television advertisement in 2009.
New, revamped 2010 slogan, which made its first appearance on the new commercial, alongside the new logo and livery
.
, Premium Economy
, and Upper Class
cabins. The airline's Airbus A330-300
aircraft are not fitted with the Upper Class cabin.
Economy is the standard coach class of Virgin Atlantic. Amenities include free meals, drinks and amenity kits for all passengers. Seats have a minimum seat pitch of 31 in (depending on the aircraft type). In addition, updated economy seats have adjustable lumbar support, and are being installed across Virgin Atlantic’s fleet.
Premium Economy
Premium Economy has a separate check-in area, priority boarding ahead of Economy passengers, a wider seat with more legroom than Economy, and additional cabin services such as a preflight drink and dedicated cabin crew. As with Economy, in November 2006, Virgin launched an updated product with a wider seat that also supplies laptop power. It is being installed across the fleet starting with London Heathrow-based A340 aircraft. As of May 2010 all Airbus A340s, A330s, and London Heathrow
Boeing 747s have the new product. The 747s based at Heathrow have an updated configuration of 62 seats all located downstairs. The upper deck on Gatwick Boeing 747s is entirely Premium Economy (the original seats), with a further two Premium Economy rows downstairs. The Premium Economy cabin on the new A330-300s consists of 59 seats at the front of the aircraft.
Upper Class
Upper Class is the equivalent of business class
on all Virgin Atlantic Airways’ flights. Virgin does not offer a traditional First Class
cabin service. The Upper Class seat is claimed by the airline to be the biggest fully flat bed of any airline’s business class service (it is approximately 202 cm long and 84 cm wide); however, Air Canada
and Singapore Airlines
have made similar claims. The seat offers in-seat laptop power and power leads for iPod
s, and Upper Class passengers have access to a chauffeur
, drive thru check-in and private security channel (at some airports), Virgin Atlantic Clubhouses, a larger menu than that of Premium Economy and Economy passengers and an in-flight bar. The seats in the Upper Class cabin are arranged in a Herringbone seating
design. Gatwick based aircraft have a smaller Upper Class cabin with 14 seats in the nose of the Boeing 747-400 aircraft whereas 747-400 aircraft based at London Heathrow are configured with a larger Upper Class cabin split over the lower and upper deck with a total number of 44 seats. A340-300
aircraft have 34 Upper Class seats whereas all A340-600 aircraft are configured with 45 Upper Class seats. There is currently no upper class on the new A330-300 aircraft.
systems can be found on aircraft in the fleet, mainly on aircraft based at Gatwick Airport. They both have smaller screens and display audio and video on a loop rather than broadcasting on demand.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
airline owned by Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group
Virgin Group
Virgin Group Limited is a British branded venture capital conglomerate organisation founded by business tycoon Richard Branson. The core business areas are travel, entertainment and lifestyle. Virgin Group's date of incorporation is listed as 1989 by Companies House, who class it as a holding...
(51%) and Singapore Airlines
Singapore Airlines
Singapore Airlines Limited is the flag carrier airline of Singapore. Singapore Airlines operates a hub at Changi Airport and has a strong presence in the Southeast Asia, East Asia, South Asia, and "Kangaroo Route" markets...
(49%). It is headquartered in Crawley
Crawley
Crawley is a town and local government district with Borough status in West Sussex, England. It is south of Charing Cross, north of Brighton and Hove, and northeast of the county town of Chichester, covers an area of and had a population of 99,744 at the time of the 2001 Census.The area has...
, West Sussex
West Sussex
West Sussex is a county in the south of England, bordering onto East Sussex , Hampshire and Surrey. The county of Sussex has been divided into East and West since the 12th century, and obtained separate county councils in 1888, but it remained a single ceremonial county until 1974 and the coming...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, near Gatwick Airport.
It operates between the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
, Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
, Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
, and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
from its bases at Gatwick Airport and London Heathrow Airport
London Heathrow Airport
London Heathrow Airport or Heathrow , in the London Borough of Hillingdon, is the busiest airport in the United Kingdom and the third busiest airport in the world in terms of total passenger traffic, handling more international passengers than any other airport around the globe...
using a mixed fleet of Airbus
Airbus
Airbus SAS is an aircraft manufacturing subsidiary of EADS, a European aerospace company. Based in Blagnac, France, surburb of Toulouse, and with significant activity across Europe, the company produces around half of the world's jet airliners....
and Boeing
Boeing Commercial Airplanes
Boeing Commercial Airplanes designs, assembles, markets and sells large commercial jet aircraft and provides product-related maintenance and training to customers worldwide...
widebodied
Wide-body aircraft
A wide-body aircraft is a large airliner with two passenger aisles, also known as a widebody aircraft or twin-aisle aircraft. The typical fuselage diameter is . In the typical wide-body economy cabin, passengers are seated seven to ten abreast, allowing a total capacity of 200 to 850 passengers...
jet
Jet aircraft
A jet aircraft is an aircraft propelled by jet engines. Jet aircraft generally fly much faster than propeller-powered aircraft and at higher altitudes – as high as . At these altitudes, jet engines achieve maximum efficiency over long distances. The engines in propeller-powered aircraft...
s. Almost uniquely among major airlines, it operates no short-haul services whatsoever, with its shortest route being from London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
to Accra
Accra
Accra is the capital and largest city of Ghana, with an urban population of 1,658,937 according to the 2000 census. Accra is also the capital of the Greater Accra Region and of the Accra Metropolitan District, with which it is coterminous...
. In 2010, Virgin Atlantic carried 5.3 million passengers, making it the eighth largest UK airline based on passenger numbers. In the year to February 2010, the airline made an annual operating loss of £
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
132 million on turnover of £2,357 million.
Conception and birth
Randolph FieldsRandolph Fields
Randolph Fields was an Anglo-American lawyer who founded British Atlantic Airways which later became Virgin Atlantic Airways. After differences with Richard Branson, Fields sold his share of Virgin Atlantic in 1985, becoming a sterling millionaire...
, an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
-born lawyer, and Alan Hellary
Alan Hellary
Alan Hellary was a British pilot who co-founded British Atlantic Airways, which would later become Virgin Atlantic Airways.-Biography:...
, a former chief pilot for Laker Airways
Laker Airways
Laker Airways was a wholly private, British independentindependent from government-owned corporations airline founded by Sir Freddie Laker in 1966. It originally was a charter airline flying passengers and cargo worldwide...
, set up British Atlantic Airways as a successor to Laker Airways. Fields got the idea of an airline from London to the Falkland Islands
Falkland Islands
The Falkland Islands are an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean, located about from the coast of mainland South America. The archipelago consists of East Falkland, West Falkland and 776 lesser islands. The capital, Stanley, is on East Falkland...
in June 1982, when the Falklands War
Falklands War
The Falklands War , also called the Falklands Conflict or Falklands Crisis, was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the disputed Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands...
had just finished and there was need for a service. Fields needed expertise and contacted Alan Hellary, Laker Airways' former chief pilot, who had thought about establishing a regular, commercial service to the Falklands at the same time. Hellary was in contact with colleagues out of work following the collapse of Laker Airways and they worked on the idea.
However the short runway at Port Stanley Airport
Port Stanley Airport
Port Stanley Airport is a STOLport in the Falkland Islands, two miles outside the capital, Stanley. The airport is the only civilian airport in the islands with a paved runway...
and the time to improve it made the scheme unviable, so the idea of the Falklands service was dropped. Instead, Hellary and Fields tried to secure a licence from Gatwick Airport to John F. Kennedy Airport
John F. Kennedy International Airport
John F. Kennedy International Airport is an international airport located in the borough of Queens in New York City, about southeast of Lower Manhattan. It is the busiest international air passenger gateway to the United States, handling more international traffic than any other airport in North...
(JFK) in New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. A three-day inquiry in May 1983 rejected it after British Airways
British Airways
British Airways is the flag carrier airline of the United Kingdom, based in Waterside, near its main hub at London Heathrow Airport. British Airways is the largest airline in the UK based on fleet size, international flights and international destinations...
(BA), British Caledonian
British Caledonian
British Caledonian was a private, British independentindependent from government-owned corporations airline, operating out of Gatwick Airport in the 1970s and 1980s...
(BCal) and BAA objected.
Hellary and Fields then applied for a licence between Gatwick and Newark
Newark Liberty International Airport
Newark Liberty International Airport , first named Newark Metropolitan Airport and later Newark International Airport, is an international airport within the city limits of both Newark and Elizabeth, New Jersey, United States...
. It was planned that British Atlantic Airways would use a 380-seat DC-10
McDonnell Douglas DC-10
The McDonnell Douglas DC-10 is a three-engine widebody jet airliner manufactured by McDonnell Douglas. The DC-10 has range for medium- to long-haul flights, capable of carrying a maximum 380 passengers. Its most distinguishing feature is the two turbofan engines mounted on underwing pylons and a...
to fly to Newark. However, faced with the prospect of direct competition from People Express, a post-deregulation
Deregulation
Deregulation is the removal or simplification of government rules and regulations that constrain the operation of market forces.Deregulation is the removal or simplification of government rules and regulations that constrain the operation of market forces.Deregulation is the removal or...
"no frills
No frills
No-frills or no frills is a term used to describe any service or product for which the non-essential features have been removed to keep the price low. The use of the term "frills" refers to a style of fabric decoration...
" discount airline at Newark, they decided to secure more funding before proceeding.
Fields met Richard Branson
Richard Branson
Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson is an English business magnate, best known for his Virgin Group of more than 400 companies....
at a party in Central London
Central London
Central London is the innermost part of London, England. There is no official or commonly accepted definition of its area, but its characteristics are understood to include a high density built environment, high land values, an elevated daytime population and a concentration of regionally,...
during which he proposed a business partnership. After protracted and testy negotiations, Fields agreed to a reduced stake of 25% in the airline (renamed Virgin Atlantic) and became first chairman. Following disagreements over operations, Fields agreed to be bought out for an initial sum of £1 million with further payment on Virgin's first dividend. As a result of a High Court
High Court of Justice
The High Court of Justice is, together with the Court of Appeal and the Crown Court, one of the Senior Courts of England and Wales...
action, this additional payment was received shortly before Fields' death from cancer in 1997.
Formative years
On 22 June 1984, Virgin Atlantic operated its inaugural scheduled service between Gatwick and NewarkNewark Liberty International Airport
Newark Liberty International Airport , first named Newark Metropolitan Airport and later Newark International Airport, is an international airport within the city limits of both Newark and Elizabeth, New Jersey, United States...
using a leased Boeing 747-200
Boeing 747
The Boeing 747 is a wide-body commercial airliner and cargo transport, often referred to by its original nickname, Jumbo Jet, or Queen of the Skies. It is among the world's most recognizable aircraft, and was the first wide-body ever produced...
(registration G-VIRG), christened Maiden Voyager, formerly operated by Aerolíneas Argentinas
Aerolíneas Argentinas
Aerolíneas Argentinas , formally Aerolíneas Argentinas S.A., is Argentina's largest airline and serves as the country's flag carrier. Owned in its majority by the Argentine Government, the airline is headquartered in the Torre Bouchard, located in San Nicolás, Buenos Aires...
. Part of Richard Branson's approach to business is to succeed within the first year or exit the market. This includes a one-year limit on everything associated with starting up. Virgin Atlantic became profitable during the first 12 months, aided by sister company Virgin Records
Virgin Records
Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
' ability to finance the lease of a second-hand Boeing 747. The firm timed operations to take advantage of a full summer, which included June to September – the most profitable period of the year.
In 1986, the airline added another Boeing 747 and started a scheduled route from Gatwick to Miami
Miami International Airport
Miami International Airport , also known as MIA and historically Wilcox Field, is the primary airport serving the South Florida area...
. Additional aircraft were acquired and routes launched from Gatwick to New York JFK (1988), Tokyo
Narita International Airport
is an international airport serving the Greater Tokyo Area of Japan. It is located east of Tokyo Station and east-southeast of Narita Station in the city of Narita, and the adjacent town of Shibayama....
(1989), Los Angeles
Los Angeles International Airport
Los Angeles International Airport is the primary airport serving the Greater Los Angeles Area, the second-most populated metropolitan area in the United States. It is most often referred to by its IATA airport code LAX, with the letters pronounced individually...
(1990), Boston
Logan International Airport
General Edward Lawrence Logan International Airport is located in the East Boston neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts . It covers , has six runways, and employs an estimated 16,000 people. It is the 19th busiest airport in the United States.Boston serves as a focus city for JetBlue Airways...
(1991), and Orlando
Orlando International Airport
Orlando International Airport is a major international airport located southeast of the central business district of Orlando. It is the second busiest airport in Florida, after Miami International Airport...
(1992). In 1987, a service was launched between Luton
London Luton Airport
London Luton Airport is an international airport located east of the town centre in the Borough of Luton in Bedfordshire, England and is north of Central London. The airport is from Junction 10a of the M1 motorway...
and Dublin
Dublin Airport
Dublin Airport, , is operated by the Dublin Airport Authority. Located in Collinstown, in the Fingal part of County Dublin, 18.4 million passengers passed through the airport in 2010, making it the busiest airport in the Republic of Ireland, followed by Cork and Shannon...
using Viscount
Vickers Viscount
The Vickers Viscount was a British medium-range turboprop airliner first flown in 1948 by Vickers-Armstrongs, making it the first such aircraft to enter service in the world...
turboprop
Turboprop
A turboprop engine is a type of turbine engine which drives an aircraft propeller using a reduction gear.The gas turbine is designed specifically for this application, with almost all of its output being used to drive the propeller...
aircraft, but this was withdrawn around 1990. In 1988, Club Air operated two Boeing 727
Boeing 727
The Boeing 727 is a mid-size, narrow-body, three-engine, T-tailed commercial jet airliner, manufactured by Boeing. The Boeing 727 first flew in 1963, and for over a decade more were built per year than any other jet airliner. When production ended in 1984 a total of 1,832 aircraft had been produced...
jet aircraft
Jet aircraft
A jet aircraft is an aircraft propelled by jet engines. Jet aircraft generally fly much faster than propeller-powered aircraft and at higher altitudes – as high as . At these altitudes, jet engines achieve maximum efficiency over long distances. The engines in propeller-powered aircraft...
on behalf of Virgin. These served the Luton
London Luton Airport
London Luton Airport is an international airport located east of the town centre in the Borough of Luton in Bedfordshire, England and is north of Central London. The airport is from Junction 10a of the M1 motorway...
to Dublin route until ca. 1990 as well.
Later years
In March 2000 Virgin GroupVirgin Group
Virgin Group Limited is a British branded venture capital conglomerate organisation founded by business tycoon Richard Branson. The core business areas are travel, entertainment and lifestyle. Virgin Group's date of incorporation is listed as 1989 by Companies House, who class it as a holding...
sold 49% of the airline's holding company to Singapore Airlines
Singapore Airlines
Singapore Airlines Limited is the flag carrier airline of Singapore. Singapore Airlines operates a hub at Changi Airport and has a strong presence in the Southeast Asia, East Asia, South Asia, and "Kangaroo Route" markets...
for £600.25 million. Virgin Group still owns the remaining 51%.
In June 2002, Virgin Atlantic became the first airline to use the Airbus A340-600
Airbus A340
The Airbus A340 is a long-range four-engine wide-body commercial passenger jet airliner. Developed by Airbus Industrie,A consortium of European aerospace companies, Airbus is now fully owned by EADS and since 2001 has been known as Airbus SAS. a consortium of European aerospace companies, which is...
.
In 2003, Virgin Atlantic carried 3.8 million passengers. This increased to 4.6 million in 2006, placing them seventh among UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
airlines (second in terms of passenger-miles because of the long-haul nature of operations). During the 2012 Summer Olympics bids, Virgin Atlantic attached London 2012 decal
Decal
A decal or transfer is a plastic, cloth, paper or ceramic substrate that has printed on it a pattern or image that can be moved to another surface upon contact, usually with the aid of heat or water. The word is short for decalcomania...
s to the rear of many of their Boeing 747-400
Boeing 747-400
The Boeing 747-400 is a major development and the best-selling model of the Boeing 747 family of jet airliners. While retaining the four-engine wide-body layout of its predecessors, the 747-400 embodies numerous technological and structural changes to produce a more efficient airframe...
s.
On 31 October 2005, Virgin Atlantic operated a humanitarian aid charter flight to the capital of Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
, Islamabad
Islamabad
Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan and the tenth largest city in the country. Located within the Islamabad Capital Territory , the population of the city has grown from 100,000 in 1951 to 1.7 million in 2011...
, with 55 tonnes of aid for the affected by the earthquake in Pakistan
2005 Kashmir earthquake
The 2005 Kashmir earthquake was a major earthquake centered in Pakistan-administered Kashmir known as Azad Kashmir, near the city of Muzaffarabad, affecting Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. It occurred at 08:52:37 Pakistan Standard Time on 8 October 2005...
.
Virgin volunteered a Boeing 747
Boeing 747
The Boeing 747 is a wide-body commercial airliner and cargo transport, often referred to by its original nickname, Jumbo Jet, or Queen of the Skies. It is among the world's most recognizable aircraft, and was the first wide-body ever produced...
for a test of biofuels. In February 2008, it flew from Heathrow to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, with no passengers, and 20% of power for one engine provided by plant-based biofuel. The airline said it expected to use biofuels based on algae
Algae
Algae are a large and diverse group of simple, typically autotrophic organisms, ranging from unicellular to multicellular forms, such as the giant kelps that grow to 65 meters in length. They are photosynthetic like plants, and "simple" because their tissues are not organized into the many...
.
Future merger or sale
In November 2010, it was reported that Virgin Atlantic had appointed Deutsche BankDeutsche Bank
Deutsche Bank AG is a global financial service company with its headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany. It employs more than 100,000 people in over 70 countries, and has a large presence in Europe, the Americas, Asia Pacific and the emerging markets...
to begin a strategic
Strategic management
Strategic management is a field that deals with the major intended and emergent initiatives taken by general managers on behalf of owners, involving utilization of resources, to enhance the performance of firms in their external environments...
review of options for the airline following the tie-up between British Airways and American Airlines
American Airlines
American Airlines, Inc. is the world's fourth-largest airline in passenger miles transported and operating revenues. American Airlines is a subsidiary of the AMR Corporation and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas adjacent to its largest hub at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport...
. By February 2011, it was confirmed that SkyTeam
SkyTeam
SkyTeam, branded as SKYTEAM, is an airline alliance with its centralised management team, SkyTeam Central, based at the World Trade Center Schiphol Airport on the grounds of Amsterdam Airport Schiphol in Haarlemmermeer, Netherlands...
members Air France-KLM
Air France-KLM
Air France-KLM is a European airline holding company incorporated under French law with its headquarters at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport in Tremblay-en-France, Paris...
and Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines, Inc. is a major airline based in the United States and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The airline operates an extensive domestic and international network serving all continents except Antarctica. Delta and its subsidiaries operate over 4,000 flights every day...
had appointed Goldman Sachs
Goldman Sachs
The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. is an American multinational bulge bracket investment banking and securities firm that engages in global investment banking, securities, investment management, and other financial services primarily with institutional clients...
to advise them on a joint potential approach for Virgin Atlantic. Etihad Airways
Etihad Airways
Etihad Airways is the flag carrier of the United Arab Emirates. Established in July 2003 and based at Abu Dhabi International Airport, Etihad commenced operations in November 2003....
is also reported to be considering a deal, and Willie Walsh, Chief Executive
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
of International Airlines Group
International Airlines Group
International Airlines Group is a multinational airline holding company headquartered in London, United Kingdom and with its registered office in Madrid, Spain...
, stated that they would be interested in the airline, but only for the lucrative take-off and landing slots it holds at London Heathrow Airport.
Corporate affairs
Head office
Virgin Atlantic's head office, named The Office is located in the Business Quarter of CrawleyCrawley
Crawley is a town and local government district with Borough status in West Sussex, England. It is south of Charing Cross, north of Brighton and Hove, and northeast of the county town of Chichester, covers an area of and had a population of 99,744 at the time of the 2001 Census.The area has...
, West Sussex
West Sussex
West Sussex is a county in the south of England, bordering onto East Sussex , Hampshire and Surrey. The county of Sussex has been divided into East and West since the 12th century, and obtained separate county councils in 1888, but it remained a single ceremonial county until 1974 and the coming...
, England, near Gatwick Airport. The same building houses the corporate offices of Virgin Holidays
Virgin Holidays
Virgin Holidays Limited is a company within Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group, headquartered in "The Office" in Crawley, West Sussex. The company was formed in 1985, a year after the successful launch of Virgin Atlantic Airways in June 1984...
. Prior to the establishment of its current headquarters, Virgin Atlantic had its head office in Ashdown House on the High Street in Crawley.
Rivalry with British Airways
Virgin Atlantic has been a rival of British Airways since inception, as British Airways had been the only airline from the United Kingdom serving long-haul routes to destinations in North America, the Caribbean and the Far EastFar East
The Far East is an English term mostly describing East Asia and Southeast Asia, with South Asia sometimes also included for economic and cultural reasons.The term came into use in European geopolitical discourse in the 19th century,...
since the BA-BCal merger in the late 1980s.
Opening up of Heathrow
In January 1991, the UK opened Heathrow Airport to Virgin when it abolished the London [Air] Traffic Distribution Rules (TDRs) in response to pressure from the industry. The London TDRs had come into effect in 1978, originally created to achieve a fairer distribution of traffic between Heathrow and Gatwick, the UK's two main international airports, to help Gatwick make a profit. The former rules stated airlines without an international scheduled service from Heathrow prior to 1 April 1977 would not be permitted operations there; instead they would have to use Gatwick. However, airlines that did not already operate at Heathrow were still able to commence domestic scheduled services there provided BAA, which ran both Heathrow and Gatwick on behalf of the Government, and the Secretary of State for TransportSecretary of State for Transport
The Secretary of State for Transport is the member of the cabinet responsible for the British Department for Transport. The role has had a high turnover as new appointments are blamed for the failures of decades of their predecessors...
, granted permission.
The decision to open Heathrow to all newcomers in 1991 – other than those governed by Bermuda II
Bermuda II
Bermuda II was a bilateral air transport agreement between the governments of the United Kingdom and the United States signed on 23 July 1977 as a renegotiation of the original 1946 Bermuda air services agreement...
– angered BA's chairman Lord King
John King, Baron King of Wartnaby
John Leonard King, Baron King of Wartnaby was a businessman famous for leading British Airways from an inefficient, nationalised company to one of the most successful airlines of recent times...
, who stopped British Airways' donations to the Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
in protest. Lord King was furthermore angered by the subsequent decision of the CAA to transfer two pairs of unused slots British Airways held at Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
's Narita Airport
Narita International Airport
is an international airport serving the Greater Tokyo Area of Japan. It is located east of Tokyo Station and east-southeast of Narita Station in the city of Narita, and the adjacent town of Shibayama....
to Virgin to let it increase its frequency between Heathrow and Tokyo from four to six weekly round-trips, making it easier for Virgin to compete against British Airways. Lord King called the CAA's decision, which the Government had endorsed, "a confiscation of his company's property".
Precarious financial position during early 1990s
According to industry insiders, Virgin Atlantic had increasing financial problems. This was primarily the result of a reduction in demand for travel caused by the recession of the early 1990s as well as by fear to travel in the aftermath of the first Gulf WarGulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
. Britain's Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
Government, which had presided over the collapse of International Leisure Group (ILG) and its subsidiary Air Europe
Air Europe
Air Europe was a wholly privately owned, independentindependent from government-owned corporations British airline, established in 1978 under the working title Inter European Airways. It adopted the Air Europe name the following year...
resulting in 4,000 job losses was aware that Dan-Air
Dan-Air
Dan-Air was a leading private, independentindependent from government-owned corporations airline based in the United Kingdom....
was on the brink of bankruptcy, and wanted to avoid the collapse of another independentindependent from government-owned corporation
Government-owned corporation
A government-owned corporation, state-owned company, state-owned entity, state enterprise, publicly owned corporation, government business enterprise, or parastatal is a legal entity created by a government to undertake commercial activities on behalf of an owner government...
s British airline, especially if its profile was as high as Virgin Atlantic's. The Government decided to let Virgin Atlantic into Heathrow despite facing opposition from British Airways.
"Dirty tricks" controversy
The decision to abolish the London TDRs and to let Virgin Atlantic operate at Heathrow in competition with British Airways became the trigger for BA's so-called "dirty tricks" campaign against Virgin. In 1993 BA's PR director, David BurnsideDavid Burnside
David Wilson Boyd Burnside is a Northern Ireland politician, and was Ulster Unionist Party Member of Parliament for South Antrim....
, published an article in BA News, British Airways' internal magazine, which argued that Branson's protests against British Airways were a publicity stunt. Branson sued British Airways for libel, using the services of George Carman
George Carman
George Alfred Carman, QC , was a leading English barrister of the 1980s and 1990s. He first came to the attention of the general public in 1979, when he successfully defended the former Liberal leader Jeremy Thorpe after he was charged with conspiracy to murder...
QC
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
. BA settled out of court when its lawyers found the lengths to which the company went to try to kill off Virgin. BA had to pay a legal bill of up to £3m, damages to Branson of £500,000 and a further £110,000 to his airline. Branson donated the proceeds from the case to Virgin Atlantic staff.
In the 1990s, Virgin Atlantic jets were painted with "No-Way BA/AA" in opposition to the attempted merger between British Airways
British Airways
British Airways is the flag carrier airline of the United Kingdom, based in Waterside, near its main hub at London Heathrow Airport. British Airways is the largest airline in the UK based on fleet size, international flights and international destinations...
and American Airlines
American Airlines
American Airlines, Inc. is the world's fourth-largest airline in passenger miles transported and operating revenues. American Airlines is a subsidiary of the AMR Corporation and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas adjacent to its largest hub at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport...
.
In 1997, following British Airways' announcement that it was to remove the Union Flag
Union Flag
The Union Flag, also known as the Union Jack, is the flag of the United Kingdom. It retains an official or semi-official status in some Commonwealth Realms; for example, it is known as the Royal Union Flag in Canada. It is also used as an official flag in some of the smaller British overseas...
from its tailfins in favour of world images
British Airways ethnic liveries
In 1997 British Airways adopted a new livery. One part of this was a newly stylised version of the British Airways "Speedbird" logo, but the major change was the introduction of tail-fin art. Also known as the Utopia or world image tailfins, they used art and designs from international artists and...
, Virgin introduced a Union Flag design on the winglets of its aircraft and changed the red dress on the Scarlet Lady on the nose of aircraft to the union flag with the tag line "Britain's Flag Carrier
Flag carrier
A flag carrier is a transportation company, such as an airline or shipping company, that, being locally registered in a given country, enjoys preferential rights or privileges, accorded by the government, for international operations. It may be a state-run, state-owned or private but...
". This was a tongue-in-cheek challenge to BA's traditional role as the UK's flag carrier.
Relations with British Airways improved with the arrival of Rod Eddington
Rod Eddington
Sir Roderick Ian Eddington is an Australian businessman. He is currently chair of the government body Infrastructure Australia, a director of News Corporation, continuing his long association with that company, and has served in other senior positions including as former CEO of British...
as BA CEO though rivalry continued. Eddington replaced Robert Ayling
Robert Ayling
Robert John Ayling is a British businessman who has been involved in many high profile companies and organisations. Perhaps most notably, he was chief executive of British Airways from 1996 to 2000.-Career:...
, involved in the dirty tricks affair, who was dismissed by Lord Marshall
Colin Marshall, Baron Marshall of Knightsbridge
Colin Marsh Marshall, Baron Marshall of Knightsbridge is a British businessman and member of the House of Lords.Marshall was educated at University College School, an independent school for boys in Hampstead, a suburb of North London...
, the long-serving BA chairman and Ayling's mentor, on behalf of BA's main institutional shareholders after BA had its first net loss since privatisation during Ayling's time during its 1999/2000 financial year.
In June 2006, a tip-off from Virgin Atlantic led US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and UK competition authorities to investigate alleged price-fixing
Price fixing
Price fixing is an agreement between participants on the same side in a market to buy or sell a product, service, or commodity only at a fixed price, or maintain the market conditions such that the price is maintained at a given level by controlling supply and demand...
between Virgin Atlantic and British Airways. In August 2007, BA was fined £271 million by the UK's Office of Fair Trading
Office of Fair Trading
The Office of Fair Trading is a not-for-profit and non-ministerial government department of the United Kingdom, established by the Fair Trading Act 1973, which enforces both consumer protection and competition law, acting as the UK's economic regulator...
and the US Department of Justice
United States Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
though this was upheld on account of a guilty plea. Virgin Atlantic was not fined as it was given immunity for reporting the cartel to regulators.
Price fixing allegations
In April 2010, a tip-off from Cathay Pacific led to the UK's Office of Fair TradingOffice of Fair Trading
The Office of Fair Trading is a not-for-profit and non-ministerial government department of the United Kingdom, established by the Fair Trading Act 1973, which enforces both consumer protection and competition law, acting as the UK's economic regulator...
investigating alleged price-fixing between Virgin Atlantic and Cathay Pacific on flights to Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
between 2002 and 2006. Cathay Pacific will benefit from immunity as long as they continue to cooperate with the authorities. A maximum fine if found guilty is 10% of turnover which based on the £2.5bn sales for the year to the February 2009 would be £250m. At this stage, the competition authorities stressed that it should not be assumed that the parties involved have broken the law.
Destinations
Codeshare agreements
Virgin Atlantic has codeshare agreements with the following airlines:
|
Continental Airlines Continental Airlines was a major American airline now merged with United Airlines. On May 3, 2010, Continental Airlines, Inc. and UAL, Inc. announced a merger via a stock swap, and on October 1, 2010, the merger closed and UAL changed its name to United Continental Holdings, Inc... Jet Airways Jet Airways is a major Indian airline based in Mumbai, Maharashtra. It is India's largest airline and the market leader in the domestic sector. It operates over 400 flights daily to 76 destinations worldwide. Its main hub is Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, with secondary hubs at Delhi,... Singapore Airlines Singapore Airlines Limited is the flag carrier airline of Singapore. Singapore Airlines operates a hub at Changi Airport and has a strong presence in the Southeast Asia, East Asia, South Asia, and "Kangaroo Route" markets... South African Airways South African Airways is the national flag carrier and largest airline of South Africa, with headquarters in Airways Park on the grounds of OR Tambo International Airport in Kempton Park, Ekurhuleni, Gauteng. The airline flies to 36 destinations worldwide from its hub at OR Tambo International... V Australia Virgin Australia International Airlines Pty Ltd, trading as V Australia, is a long haul international airline owned by Virgin Blue Holdings. It operates as an international feeder for Virgin Australia... |
Star Alliance
Star Alliance
Star Alliance is the world's first and largest airline alliance, headquartered in Frankfurt am Main, Germany . The alliance was founded in 1997 by five of the world's leading airlines: Air Canada, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Thai Airways International and United Airlines...
member airline
Airline partners
In addition to the above airlines, Virgin Atlantic has partnership alliances with:
|
US Airways US Airways, Inc. is a major airline based in the U.S. city of Tempe, Arizona. The airline is an operating unit of US Airways Group and is the sixth largest airline by traffic and eighth largest by market value in the country.... Virgin America Virgin America, Inc. is a United States-based low-cost airline that began service on August 8, 2007. The airline's stated aim is to provide low-fare, high-quality service for "long-haul point-to-point service between major metropolitan cities on the Eastern and West Coast seaboards." San Francisco... JetBlue Airways JetBlue Airways Corporation is an American low-cost airline. The company is headquartered in the Forest Hills neighborhood of the New York City borough of Queens. Its main base is John F. Kennedy International Airport, also in Queens.... |
Fleet
Virgin Atlantic's fleet uses both AirbusAirbus
Airbus SAS is an aircraft manufacturing subsidiary of EADS, a European aerospace company. Based in Blagnac, France, surburb of Toulouse, and with significant activity across Europe, the company produces around half of the world's jet airliners....
and Boeing
Boeing Commercial Airplanes
Boeing Commercial Airplanes designs, assembles, markets and sells large commercial jet aircraft and provides product-related maintenance and training to customers worldwide...
aircraft, with an average age of 9.4 years as of February 2011. Boeing 747-400s and Airbus A330
Airbus A330
The Airbus A330 is a wide-body twin-engine jet airliner made by Airbus, a division of EADS. Versions of the A330 have a range of and can accommodate up to 335 passengers in a two-class layout or carry of cargo....
s are used on selected routes from Gatwick, Glasgow
Glasgow International Airport
Glasgow International Airport is an international airport in Scotland, located west of Glasgow city centre, near the towns of Paisley and Renfrew in Renfrewshire...
and Manchester, with the A330
Airbus A330
The Airbus A330 is a wide-body twin-engine jet airliner made by Airbus, a division of EADS. Versions of the A330 have a range of and can accommodate up to 335 passengers in a two-class layout or carry of cargo....
being used on other flights as well. Boeing 747s and Airbus A340
Airbus A340
The Airbus A340 is a long-range four-engine wide-body commercial passenger jet airliner. Developed by Airbus Industrie,A consortium of European aerospace companies, Airbus is now fully owned by EADS and since 2001 has been known as Airbus SAS. a consortium of European aerospace companies, which is...
s are used interchangeably on all routes from Heathrow.
Virgin Atlantic has orders for Boeing 787–9 and Airbus A380
Airbus A380
The Airbus A380 is a double-deck, wide-body, four-engine jet airliner manufactured by the European corporation Airbus, a subsidiary of EADS. It is the largest passenger airliner in the world. Due to its size, many airports had to modify and improve facilities to accommodate it...
-800 aircraft for delivery beginning 2014 and 2015, respectively. The A380
Airbus A380
The Airbus A380 is a double-deck, wide-body, four-engine jet airliner manufactured by the European corporation Airbus, a subsidiary of EADS. It is the largest passenger airliner in the world. Due to its size, many airports had to modify and improve facilities to accommodate it...
was expected in service in 2006 but was delayed until 2009 because of problems within Airbus
Airbus
Airbus SAS is an aircraft manufacturing subsidiary of EADS, a European aerospace company. Based in Blagnac, France, surburb of Toulouse, and with significant activity across Europe, the company produces around half of the world's jet airliners....
. Virgin deferred its order to 2013, arguing it wanted the aircraft to prove itself before entering its own into operation.
The order for 15 Boeing 787-9s, with options
Option (aircraft purchasing)
An option, when purchasing aircraft, allows an airline to purchase additional aircraft in the future at an agreed price and date.When placing orders for new aircraft, airlines commonly obtain options from the aircraft manufacturer, for example Airbus or Boeing...
on eight more and purchase rights on 20 more, was announced on 24 April 2007. The aircraft will replace Virgin’s older A340-300s. Virgin has listed Seattle, Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
, and Melbourne as possible destinations for the aircraft, saying the 787 would make possible non-stop operations from London to Perth, Australia
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
and Honolulu, Hawaii.
Virgin is negotiating with Boeing and Airbus over an order for ten wide-bodied jets for the Gatwick fleet. This could be a new order for the Boeing 747-8
Boeing 747-8
The Boeing 747-8 is a wide-body jet airliner developed by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Officially announced in 2005, the 747-8 is the fourth-generation Boeing 747 version, with lengthened fuselage, redesigned wings and improved efficiency...
or for additional Airbus A380-800s.
On 27 September 2006, Branson announced plans to reduce greenhouse gas
Greenhouse gas
A greenhouse gas is a gas in an atmosphere that absorbs and emits radiation within the thermal infrared range. This process is the fundamental cause of the greenhouse effect. The primary greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere are water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone...
emissions by cutting aircraft weight and fuel consumption. There was also an experiment in 2007 in partnership with Boeing to have aircraft towed to the runway to save fuel, as a potential change to future operational procedures.
Two Virgin Atlantic aircraft are featured in the James Bond film, Casino Royale
Casino Royale (2006 film)
Casino Royale is the twenty-first film in the James Bond film series and the first to star Daniel Craig as fictional MI6 agent James Bond...
. One Airbus A340-600 (G-VWIN) and one Boeing 747-400 - along with Branson and Virgin Atlantic crew — are part of a scene at Miami International Airport
Miami International Airport
Miami International Airport , also known as MIA and historically Wilcox Field, is the primary airport serving the South Florida area...
, although the sequence was filmed at Prague's Ruzyně International Airport
Ruzyne International Airport
-Ruzyně today:Most flights depart Ruzyně Airport from the North Terminals . The South Terminals handle a few irregular flights, as well as VIP flights, special flights and small aircraft....
. Virgin Atlantic's relationship with the James Bond
James Bond
James Bond, code name 007, is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short story collections. There have been a six other authors who wrote authorised Bond novels or novelizations after Fleming's death in 1964: Kingsley Amis,...
franchise continues in Quantum Of Solace, where James Bond
James Bond
James Bond, code name 007, is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short story collections. There have been a six other authors who wrote authorised Bond novels or novelizations after Fleming's death in 1964: Kingsley Amis,...
and René Mathis travel to La Paz
La Paz
Nuestra Señora de La Paz is the administrative capital of Bolivia, as well as the departmental capital of the La Paz Department, and the second largest city in the country after Santa Cruz de la Sierra...
, Bolivia on board Virgin Atlantic, in Upper Class, although the airline has never flown to any destination within South America.
Virgin Atlantic’s fleet consists of the following aircraft as of September 2011:
| Aircraft | Total | Orders | Options | Passengers | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J | W | Y | Total | |||||
| Airbus A330-300 | 3 | 7 | — | — | 59 | 255 | 314 | Deliveries 2011 to 2012. Three aircraft to be leased to China Airlines China Airlines China Airlines is both the flag carrier and the largest airline of Republic of China . Although not directly state-owned, the airline is owned by China Airlines Group, which is owned by the China Aviation Development Foundation... . |
| Airbus A340-300 | 5 | — | — | 34 | 35 | 171 | 240 | Exit from service: 2013 |
| Airbus A340-600 | 19 | — | — | 45 | 38 | 225 | 308 | |
| Airbus A380-800 Airbus A380 The Airbus A380 is a double-deck, wide-body, four-engine jet airliner manufactured by the European corporation Airbus, a subsidiary of EADS. It is the largest passenger airliner in the world. Due to its size, many airports had to modify and improve facilities to accommodate it... |
— | 6 | 6 | Entry into service: 2015 | ||||
| Boeing 747–400 | 12 | — | — | 44 | 62 | 261 | 367 | |
| 14 | 58 | 379 | 451 | |||||
| Boeing 787–9 | — | 15 | 8 | Entry into service: 2014 | ||||
| Total | 39 | 28 | 14 | |||||
Retired fleet
In the past, Virgin Atlantic has operated a variety of aircraft. The retired fleet includes:| Aircraft | Active | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Airbus A320 Airbus A320 family The Airbus A320 family is a family of short- to medium-range, narrow-body, commercial passenger jet airliners manufactured by Airbus Industrie.Airbus was originally a consortium of European aerospace companies, and is now fully owned by EADS. Airbus's name has been Airbus SAS since 2001... |
1995–2004 | Operated for Virgin Sun. |
| Airbus A321 Airbus A320 family The Airbus A320 family is a family of short- to medium-range, narrow-body, commercial passenger jet airliners manufactured by Airbus Industrie.Airbus was originally a consortium of European aerospace companies, and is now fully owned by EADS. Airbus's name has been Airbus SAS since 2001... |
2000–2003 | Operated for Virgin Sun. |
| Boeing 747–100 Boeing 747 The Boeing 747 is a wide-body commercial airliner and cargo transport, often referred to by its original nickname, Jumbo Jet, or Queen of the Skies. It is among the world's most recognizable aircraft, and was the first wide-body ever produced... |
1990–2000 | G-VMIA named 'Spirit of Sir Freddie' after Sir Freddie Laker Freddie Laker Sir Frederick Alfred Laker was a British airline entrepreneur, best known for founding Laker Airways in 1966, which went bankrupt in 1982... . |
| Boeing 747–200 Boeing 747 The Boeing 747 is a wide-body commercial airliner and cargo transport, often referred to by its original nickname, Jumbo Jet, or Queen of the Skies. It is among the world's most recognizable aircraft, and was the first wide-body ever produced... |
1984–2005 | G-VIRG was Virgin's first aircraft. |
Livery
Having used a "Eurowhite" design with red Virgin-branded tailfin, Virgin Atlantic’s aircraft were painted in a red and silver livery introduced in October 2006 with the delivery of G-VRED. Near the nose of each aircraft is a pinup girl carrying a Union flagUnion Flag
The Union Flag, also known as the Union Jack, is the flag of the United Kingdom. It retains an official or semi-official status in some Commonwealth Realms; for example, it is known as the Royal Union Flag in Canada. It is also used as an official flag in some of the smaller British overseas...
, designed by British artist Ken White, called Scarlet Lady. White modelled the motif on the World War II pin-ups of Alberto Vargas
Alberto Vargas
Alberto Vargas was a noted Peruvian painter of pin-up girls. He is often considered one of the most famous of the pin-up artists...
– hence the naming one of the fleet Varga Girl.
Each aircraft has a name, usually feminine, such as Ladybird, Island Lady and Ruby Tuesday, but some are linked to registrations (e.g. G-VFIZ—Bubbles). There are a couple of commemorative names (e.g. G-VEIL—Queen of the Skies—which was named by Queen Elizabeth II on 7 April 2004 in celebration of the centenary of the Entente Cordiale
Entente Cordiale
The Entente Cordiale was a series of agreements signed on 8 April 1904 between the United Kingdom and the French Republic. Beyond the immediate concerns of colonial expansion addressed by the agreement, the signing of the Entente Cordiale marked the end of almost a millennium of intermittent...
). An exception is Spirit of Sir Freddie. An early Boeing 747, it was named in honour of Freddie Laker
Freddie Laker
Sir Frederick Alfred Laker was a British airline entrepreneur, best known for founding Laker Airways in 1966, which went bankrupt in 1982...
of Laker Airways
Laker Airways
Laker Airways was a wholly private, British independentindependent from government-owned corporations airline founded by Sir Freddie Laker in 1966. It originally was a charter airline flying passengers and cargo worldwide...
, who helped Virgin Atlantic run following the demise of his own airline. G-VFAB—Lady Penelope—gained a special livery to celebrate Virgin Atlantic’s 21st birthday. The Scarlet Lady was enlarged and moved to the rear of the aircraft, a Boeing 747–400, and the aircraft was temporarily renamed Birthday Girl. The aircraft made a special flight recreating the first Virgin Atlantic flight, from London to New York, with Richard Branson and a number of special guests onboard.
In 2010, the livery was replaced by a new design, featuring a larger logo and slight changes to the Scarlet Lady. The wingtips, previously carrying the Union flag, were repainted red, with the Virgin logo on the inside facing passengers onboard. The Virgin Atlantic logo was also added to the underside of the aircraft.
Slogans
Over the years, Virgin has used many slogans, including:- "No Way BA/AA"
Used in the late 1990s on several 747-400s to express Branson's displeasure with the proposed British Airways
British Airways
British Airways is the flag carrier airline of the United Kingdom, based in Waterside, near its main hub at London Heathrow Airport. British Airways is the largest airline in the UK based on fleet size, international flights and international destinations...
/American Airlines
American Airlines
American Airlines, Inc. is the world's fourth-largest airline in passenger miles transported and operating revenues. American Airlines is a subsidiary of the AMR Corporation and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas adjacent to its largest hub at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport...
partnership. BA/AA combined held 100% market share on several US-UK routes (e.g. Dallas-Fort Worth
Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport is located between the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas, and is the busiest airport in the U.S. state of Texas...
to London), and a market share of more than 50% in several more (e.g. Chicago to London, JFK
John F. Kennedy International Airport
John F. Kennedy International Airport is an international airport located in the borough of Queens in New York City, about southeast of Lower Manhattan. It is the busiest international air passenger gateway to the United States, handling more international traffic than any other airport in North...
to London). The slogan was brought back starting in September 2008 after merger talks between British Airways, Iberia Airlines
Iberia Airlines
Iberia Líneas Aéreas de España, S.A., commonly known as Iberia, is the flag carrier airline of Spain. Based in Madrid, it operates an international network of services from its main bases of Madrid-Barajas Airport and Barcelona El Prat Airport....
and American Airlines began.
- "Mine's Bigger Than Yours"
Written on the back of the Airbus A340-600s because they were the longest passenger aircraft in the world. The new title of the longest passenger aircraft will be claimed by the Boeing 747-8
Boeing 747-8
The Boeing 747-8 is a wide-body jet airliner developed by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Officially announced in 2005, the 747-8 is the fourth-generation Boeing 747 version, with lengthened fuselage, redesigned wings and improved efficiency...
when it officially enters passenger service in 2011.
- "4 Engines 4 Longhaul"
Originally an Airbus slogan when newer versions of the A340 were built until Virgin inherited the slogan. The slogan was written on the engines of the planes, because all Virgin's planes at the time had four engines as opposed to BA's long haul twin-jet Boeing 777
Boeing 777
The Boeing 777 is a long-range, wide-body twin-engine jet airliner manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. It is the world's largest twinjet and is commonly referred to as the "Triple Seven". The aircraft has seating for over 300 passengers and has a range from , depending on model...
s and Boeing 767
Boeing 767
The Boeing 767 is a mid-size, wide-body twin-engine jet airliner built by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. It was the manufacturer's first wide-body twinjet and its first airliner with a two-crew glass cockpit. The aircraft features two turbofan engines, a supercritical wing, and a conventional tail...
s. The slogan was removed in 2006 because it "had run its course and it was time to move on"—Virgin would later order Boeing 787 Dreamliner twin-jet aircraft in 2007, as well as the Airbus A330-300, another twinjet, in 2009.
- "Still Red Hot For 25 Years"
Introduced as part of the 25th anniversary television advertisement in 2009.
- "Your Airline's Either Got It, Or It Hasn't"
New, revamped 2010 slogan, which made its first appearance on the new commercial, alongside the new logo and livery
Aircraft livery
Aircraft livery is a paint scheme applied to an aircraft, generally to fuselage, wings, empennage , or jet engines. Most airlines have a standard paint scheme for their aircraft fleet, usually prominently displaying the airline logo or name. From time to time special liveries are introduced, for...
.
Services
Most Virgin Atlantic aircraft are in a three-class configuration with EconomyEconomy class
__FORCETOC__Economy class, also called coach class , steerage, or standard class, is the lowest class of seating in air travel, rail travel, and sometimes ferry or maritime travel....
, Premium Economy
Premium economy
Premium economy is a travel class offered on some airlines, positioned in price, comfort, and amenities between economy class and business class. As of 2011, the term is not standardized among airlines, and varies significantly when comparing its use on domestic versus international flights or...
, and Upper Class
Business class
Business class is a travel class available on many commercial airlines and rail lines, known by brand names which vary by airline or rail company. In the airline industry, it was originally intended as an intermediate level of service between economy class and first class, but many airlines now...
cabins. The airline's Airbus A330-300
Airbus A330
The Airbus A330 is a wide-body twin-engine jet airliner made by Airbus, a division of EADS. Versions of the A330 have a range of and can accommodate up to 335 passengers in a two-class layout or carry of cargo....
aircraft are not fitted with the Upper Class cabin.
Cabin
EconomyEconomy is the standard coach class of Virgin Atlantic. Amenities include free meals, drinks and amenity kits for all passengers. Seats have a minimum seat pitch of 31 in (depending on the aircraft type). In addition, updated economy seats have adjustable lumbar support, and are being installed across Virgin Atlantic’s fleet.
Premium Economy
Premium Economy has a separate check-in area, priority boarding ahead of Economy passengers, a wider seat with more legroom than Economy, and additional cabin services such as a preflight drink and dedicated cabin crew. As with Economy, in November 2006, Virgin launched an updated product with a wider seat that also supplies laptop power. It is being installed across the fleet starting with London Heathrow-based A340 aircraft. As of May 2010 all Airbus A340s, A330s, and London Heathrow
London Heathrow Airport
London Heathrow Airport or Heathrow , in the London Borough of Hillingdon, is the busiest airport in the United Kingdom and the third busiest airport in the world in terms of total passenger traffic, handling more international passengers than any other airport around the globe...
Boeing 747s have the new product. The 747s based at Heathrow have an updated configuration of 62 seats all located downstairs. The upper deck on Gatwick Boeing 747s is entirely Premium Economy (the original seats), with a further two Premium Economy rows downstairs. The Premium Economy cabin on the new A330-300s consists of 59 seats at the front of the aircraft.
Upper Class
Upper Class is the equivalent of business class
Business class
Business class is a travel class available on many commercial airlines and rail lines, known by brand names which vary by airline or rail company. In the airline industry, it was originally intended as an intermediate level of service between economy class and first class, but many airlines now...
on all Virgin Atlantic Airways’ flights. Virgin does not offer a traditional First Class
First class (aviation)
First class is a luxury travel class on some airliners that exceeds business class, premium economy, and economy class. On a passenger jetliner, first class refers to a limited number of seats or cabins located in the front of the aircraft which are notable for their comfort, service, and privacy...
cabin service. The Upper Class seat is claimed by the airline to be the biggest fully flat bed of any airline’s business class service (it is approximately 202 cm long and 84 cm wide); however, Air Canada
Air Canada
Air Canada is the flag carrier and largest airline of Canada. The airline, founded in 1936, provides scheduled and charter air transport for passengers and cargo to 178 destinations worldwide. It is the world's tenth largest passenger airline by number of destinations, and the airline is a...
and Singapore Airlines
Singapore Airlines
Singapore Airlines Limited is the flag carrier airline of Singapore. Singapore Airlines operates a hub at Changi Airport and has a strong presence in the Southeast Asia, East Asia, South Asia, and "Kangaroo Route" markets...
have made similar claims. The seat offers in-seat laptop power and power leads for iPod
IPod
iPod is a line of portable media players created and marketed by Apple Inc. The product line-up currently consists of the hard drive-based iPod Classic, the touchscreen iPod Touch, the compact iPod Nano, and the ultra-compact iPod Shuffle...
s, and Upper Class passengers have access to a chauffeur
Chauffeur
A chauffeur is a person employed to drive a passenger motor vehicle, especially a luxury vehicle such as a large sedan or limousine.Originally such drivers were always personal servants of the vehicle owner, but now in many cases specialist chauffeur service companies, or individual drivers provide...
, drive thru check-in and private security channel (at some airports), Virgin Atlantic Clubhouses, a larger menu than that of Premium Economy and Economy passengers and an in-flight bar. The seats in the Upper Class cabin are arranged in a Herringbone seating
Herringbone seating
A Herringbone seating arrangement describes the positioning of seats partially and equally askew in one direction. As the name suggests, the arrangement of the seats looks very similar to the skeleton of a fish, and has been called "fish-bone seats" in a few languages.The term is derived from the...
design. Gatwick based aircraft have a smaller Upper Class cabin with 14 seats in the nose of the Boeing 747-400 aircraft whereas 747-400 aircraft based at London Heathrow are configured with a larger Upper Class cabin split over the lower and upper deck with a total number of 44 seats. A340-300
Airbus A340
The Airbus A340 is a long-range four-engine wide-body commercial passenger jet airliner. Developed by Airbus Industrie,A consortium of European aerospace companies, Airbus is now fully owned by EADS and since 2001 has been known as Airbus SAS. a consortium of European aerospace companies, which is...
aircraft have 34 Upper Class seats whereas all A340-600 aircraft are configured with 45 Upper Class seats. There is currently no upper class on the new A330-300 aircraft.
In-flight entertainment
All Virgin Atlantic aircraft offer personal seat-back televisions that provide entertainment channels. Most aircraft (some 747-400s, one A340-300 and all A340-600s) have an Audio/Video on Demand (AVOD) system called V:Port. The new A330-300 aircraft have a new touch screen AVOD system called JAM. Older "Odyssey" and "Super Nova" IFEIn-flight Entertainment
In-flight entertainment refers to the entertainment available to aircraft passengers during a flight. In 1936, the airship Hindenburg offered passengers a piano, lounge, dining room, smoking room, and bar during the 2½ day flight between Europe and America...
systems can be found on aircraft in the fleet, mainly on aircraft based at Gatwick Airport. They both have smaller screens and display audio and video on a loop rather than broadcasting on demand.
Virgin Atlantic Frequent Flyer Programme
| Tier Level | Benefits | Requirements to earn | Requirements to retain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red |
|
Free membership | N/A; miles expire if no account activity for 36 months |
| Silver |
|
Earn 15 tier points within a membership year | Earn 15 tier points within a membership year |
| Gold |
|
Earn 25 tier points within a membership year having reached Silver | Earn 40 tier points within a membership year |
Statistics
Virgin Atlantic carried over 5.2 million passengers during 2010, a 2.3% reduction compared with 2009.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Incidents and accidents
- On 5 November 1997, after numerous attempts to shake free the jammed main landing gear of an Airbus A340-300 G-VSKY failed, the aircraft made an emergency landing at London Heathrow AirportLondon Heathrow AirportLondon Heathrow Airport or Heathrow , in the London Borough of Hillingdon, is the busiest airport in the United Kingdom and the third busiest airport in the world in terms of total passenger traffic, handling more international passengers than any other airport around the globe...
. The aircraft sustained major damage to the undersides of engines 1, 2 and 4 which made contact with the runway surface during landing. The runway surface was also damaged and several runway lights were broken as the right main landing gear wheels broke up during the deceleration. The aircraft was evacuated safely, with two crew members and five passengers sustaining minor injuries during the evacuation.
- On 8 February 2005, on board an Airbus A340-600 aircraft (G-VATL) en route from Hong KongHong Kong International AirportHong Kong International Airport is the main airport in Hong Kong. It is colloquially known as Chek Lap Kok Airport , being built on the island of Chek Lap Kok by land reclamation, and also to distinguish it from its predecessor, the closed Kai Tak Airport.The airport opened for commercial...
to LondonLondon Heathrow AirportLondon Heathrow Airport or Heathrow , in the London Borough of Hillingdon, is the busiest airport in the United Kingdom and the third busiest airport in the world in terms of total passenger traffic, handling more international passengers than any other airport around the globe...
, the fuel control computer system caused a loss of automatic fuel transfer between tanks. The left outboard engine lost power, and shortly after the right outboard engine also began to falter until the crew began crossfeeding fuel manually. The crew diverted to Amsterdam, where a safe landing was made. The interim accident report made four safety recommendations addressed to the primary certification bodies for large transport category aircraft (EASAEuropean Aviation Safety AgencyThe European Aviation Safety Agency is an agency of the European Union with offices in Cologne, Germany, which has been given regulatory and executive tasks in the field of civilian aviation safety. It was created on 15 July 2002, and it reached full functionality in 2008, taking over functions...
and the FAAFederal Aviation AdministrationThe Federal Aviation Administration is the national aviation authority of the United States. An agency of the United States Department of Transportation, it has authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S...
), advising on the need for a low fuel warning system for large aircraft.
See also
- Air transport in the United KingdomAir transport in the United KingdomAir transport in the United Kingdom is the commercial carriage of passengers, freight and mail by aircraft, both within the United Kingdom and between the UK and the rest of the world...
- List of airports in the United Kingdom
- Transport in the United KingdomTransport in the United KingdomTransport in the United Kingdom is facilitated with road, air, rail, and water networks. A radial road network totals of main roads, of motorways and of paved roads. The National Rail network of 10,072 route miles in Great Britain and 189 route miles in Northern Ireland carries over 18,000...
Further reading
- Gregory, Martyn. Dirty Tricks: British Airways' Secret War Against Virgin Atlantic. New York: Virgin, 2000. ISBN 0-7535-0458-8
- Bower, Tom. Branson. UK: Fourth Estate, 2001 ISBN 1-84115-400-8