Travel, air travel
- January 22, 2010
Virgin Airlines
Owned by Virgin Group and Singapore Airlines, Virgin Airlines is well known for its decidedly British feel. Its main hubs are located at two London airports, Heathrow & Gatwick. It also has a secondary hub at Manchester. The airline provides service from the United Kingdom to North America, Africa, Caribbean, Australia, Asia and the Middle East.
Virgin Atlantic serves about 30 destinations worldwide with its fleet of more than 35 aircraft. It further extends its network through code-sharing relationships (agreements that allow airlines to sell tickets on each other’s flights) with other airlines including Air China, Continental Airlines, Singapore Airlines, and Australia-based sister company Virgin Blue.
Plans for two routes, one from London to the Falkland Islands in the aftermath of the Falkland War, and the other from London Gatwick to JFK Airport, were either scrapped or rejected. Plans were in the works for a route between London Gatwick and Newark Liberty International Airport, when it became necessary for the company to secure additional funding.Virgin Atlantic and its sister companies got their start in’82 when American Randolph Fields teamed up with pilot Alan Hellary to launch British Atlantic Airways.
Fields and Branson struck an agreement after tortuous discussions which led to the formation of the airline currently known as Virgin Atlantic starting its first flight between Londan and Newark in June’84. (Fields was later bought out.) A combination of funding from sister company Virgin Records and the timing of the agreement within the peak summer travel system allowed the company to make money in its first year of operation.
This move led to BA’s so-called “dirty tricks” campaign against Virgin Atlantic which included libel lawsuits, and an out-of-court settlement on BA’s part after lawyers found evidence of the extraordinary efforts BA was taking to “kill off” Virgin Atlantic.Virgin Atlantic and British Airways have been rivals since the company’s inception. The competition became even more intense when the UK government began allowing Virgin Atlantic to operate from London Heathrow airport in January’91.
Virgin has never been shy about taking on its competition through its advertising. Some examples: Mine’s Bigger Than Yours - painted on the back of the Airbus A340-600s because they are the longest passenger aircraft in the world
Avoid the Q - Advertised Virgin’s London to Hong Kong to Sydney route in opposition to Quantas which was operating the same route; also promoted Virgins online check-in literally allowing passengers to avoid the queues.
Upper class is the equivalent of business class since the airline does not offer a traditional first class cabin service. Virgin Atlantic claims its Upper Class seat is the largest fully flat bed when compared with any other airlines’ business class seating.No Way BA/AA - Expressed Branson’s displease with a proposed British Airways/American Airlines partnership.Virgin Atlantic currently offers three cabin classes: upper class, premium economy and economy.
Premium Economy passengers have their own check-in and get to board before Economy passengers. They enjoy greater seat width and legroom. Most planes have undergone upgrading to provide Premium Economy seats that come with power supplies for laptops. Economy class now includes free drinks and upgraded seats with adjustable back support in all aircraft.
Personal televisions mounted in the seat backs are available on all of the planes flown by Virgin Atlantic. Audio and video on demand systems are also installed on some of their aircraft. In addition, Virign Atlantic has various sister airlines. These are Virgin America, Virgin Blue, Virgin Express, Virgin Galactic, Virgin Nigeria Airways, Virgin Atlantic Global Flyer and V Australia.,
Tom Martens is the content syndication coordinator for South Arica’s leading Flight comparison portal, which includes Virgin Atlantic Airlines amongst others.
