Virgin Atlantic

Virgin Atlantic Airways Limited
Virgin Atlantic International Limited
Founded	1984
Commenced operations	22 June 1984
AOC #	534 (VAA Ltd); 2435 (VAI Ltd)
Hubs	London–Heathrow; Manchester;
Frequent-flyer program	Flying Club
Alliance	SkyTeam
Fleet size	42
Destinations	32
Parent company	Virgin Atlantic Limited (owned 51% by Virgin Group, 49% by Delta Air Lines)
Headquarters	Crawley, West Sussex, England
Key people	Shai Weiss (CEO); Peter Norris (Chairman);
Founder	Richard Branson
Revenue	£2.854 billion (2022)
Operating income	£-72.7 million (2022)
Net income	£-341.7 million (2022)
Total assets	£1.886 billion (2018)
Employees	~7900 (2022)
Website	www.virginatlantic.com

Virgin Atlantic, a trading name of Virgin Atlantic Airways Limited and Virgin Atlantic International Limited, is a British airline with its head office in Crawley, West Sussex, England. The airline was established in 1984 as British Atlantic Airways, and was originally planned by its co-founders Randolph Fields and Alan Hellary to fly between London and the Falkland Islands. Soon after changing the name to Virgin Atlantic Airways, Fields sold his shares in the company to Richard Branson in return for unlimited free travel.^[5] The maiden flight from London–Gatwick to Newark took place on 22 June 1984.

The airline along with Virgin Holidays is controlled by a holding company, Virgin Atlantic Limited, which is 51% owned by the Virgin Group and 49% by Delta Air Lines. It is administratively separate from other Virgin-branded airlines. Virgin Atlantic Airways Limited and Virgin Atlantic International Limited both hold Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Type A Operating Licences (AOC numbers 534^[6] and 2435 respectively),^[6] both of which permit these airlines, operating as Virgin Atlantic Airways, to carry passengers, cargo and mail on aircraft with 20 or more seats.^[7]

Virgin Atlantic uses a mixed fleet of Airbus and Boeing wide-body aircraft and operates to destinations in North America, the Caribbean, Africa, the Middle East and Asia from its main hub at London–Heathrow and its secondary hub at Manchester. The airline also operates a seasonal service from Edinburgh. Virgin Atlantic aircraft consist of three cabins: Economy, Premium (formerly Premium economy)^[8] and Upper Class (business).

In July 2017, Virgin Atlantic announced its intention to form a joint venture with Air France–KLM, but in December 2019, it was announced that the joint venture would not include a stake in the company.^[9]

On 5 May 2020, it was announced that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the airline would lay off 3,000 staff, reduce the fleet size to 35 by the summer of 2022, retire the Boeing 747-400s^[10] and would not resume operations from Gatwick following the pandemic.^[11]

Virgin Atlantic filed for Chapter 15 bankruptcy protection in New York on 4 August 2020 as part of a £1.2 billion private refinancing package.^[12]^[13] The airline joined the SkyTeam airline alliance in March 2023.^[14]

^ "IATA - Virgin Atlantic". Retrieved 4 July 2023.
^ "Virgin Atlantic announces appointment of new CEO". 27 January 2018.
^ "Virgin Atlantic Directors". Virgin Atlantic. 2013. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Virgin Atlantic [https://corporate.virginatlantic.com/content/dam/corporate/Virgin%20Atlantic%20Annual%20Report%202022_F.pdf
^ "Poker". The Independent. 6 March 1997. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
^ ^a ^b "UK Aeroplane and Helicopter AOC Holders (N-Z)". UK Civil Aviation Authority. 25 January 2017. Archived from the original on 6 February 2017. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
^ "Type A Operating Licence Holders". London: Civil Aviation Authority. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
^ "Premium". London: Virgin Atlantic. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
^ Jasper, Christopher (2 December 2019). "Branson drops Air France Deal to Keep Control of Virgin Atlantic". London. Bloomberg News. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
^ Schlappig, Ben (5 May 2020). "Virgin Atlantic Leaving Gatwick, Retiring 747s". One Mile at a Time. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
^ Burridge, Tom (5 May 2020). "Virgin Atlantic to cut 3,000 jobs and quit Gatwick". BBC News. London.
^ Slotnick, David. "Richard Branson's Virgin Atlantic is the second Virgin airline to declare bankruptcy". Business Insider. New York: Axel Springer SE. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
^ "A Solvent Recapitalisation of Virgin Atlantic" (Press release). London: Virgin Atlantic.
^ "Virgin Atlantic to join SkyTeam Alliance today". SkyTeam (Press release). 2 March 2023.

[1] "IATA - Virgin Atlantic". Retrieved 4 July 2023.

[2] "Virgin Atlantic announces appointment of new CEO". 27 January 2018.

[3] "Virgin Atlantic Directors". Virgin Atlantic. 2013. Retrieved 1 August 2013.

[Annualresults2022-4] Virgin Atlantic [https://corporate.virginatlantic.com/content/dam/corporate/Virgin%20Atlantic%20Annual%20Report%202022_F.pdf

[5] "Poker". The Independent. 6 March 1997. Retrieved 10 May 2024.

[AOC-6] "UK Aeroplane and Helicopter AOC Holders (N-Z)". UK Civil Aviation Authority. 25 January 2017. Archived from the original on 6 February 2017. Retrieved 5 February 2017.

[Licence-7] "Type A Operating Licence Holders". London: Civil Aviation Authority. Retrieved 5 February 2017.

[:0-8] "Premium". London: Virgin Atlantic. Retrieved 14 April 2018.

[9] Jasper, Christopher (2 December 2019). "Branson drops Air France Deal to Keep Control of Virgin Atlantic". London. Bloomberg News. Retrieved 23 December 2019.

[10] Schlappig, Ben (5 May 2020). "Virgin Atlantic Leaving Gatwick, Retiring 747s". One Mile at a Time. Retrieved 6 May 2020.

[11] Burridge, Tom (5 May 2020). "Virgin Atlantic to cut 3,000 jobs and quit Gatwick". BBC News. London.

[12] Slotnick, David. "Richard Branson's Virgin Atlantic is the second Virgin airline to declare bankruptcy". Business Insider. New York: Axel Springer SE. Retrieved 4 August 2020.

[13] "A Solvent Recapitalisation of Virgin Atlantic" (Press release). London: Virgin Atlantic.

[14] "Virgin Atlantic to join SkyTeam Alliance today". SkyTeam (Press release). 2 March 2023.

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