Virgin's busier skies across the Atlantic

Signature Article by Steve Hartridge

Virgin Atlantic is to expand its services to the U.S. this summer.

The airline plans to increase flights from London Heathrow with extra services to both New York JFK and Boston, with customers benefitting from its newest aircraft, A330neo and A350-1000.

Virgin will offer a record number of flights between London and New York, with a seventh daily flight to JFK, and together with Joint Venture partner Delta will offer 10 daily services to the Big Apple, an increase of 11% compared to summer 2023.

Virgin will also operate a second daily flight to Boston (pictured). Complementing Delta’s daily service, Boston will be served with three flights a day.

Virgin is also increasing Miami services from 11 flights a week to twice daily year-round and is adding a new seasonal summer service from Manchester to Las Vegas.

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Customers on both Virgin Atlantic departures will experience flying on the airline’s newest aircraft, the A330-900neo, and A350-1000, increasing the number of Upper and Premium seats by 23%.

Virgin Atlantic’s enhanced schedule will feature an average of 27 daily departures to U.S. destinations that also include Atlanta, Los Angeles, Orlando, San Francisco, Seattle, Tampa and Washington DC.

Last November Virgin operated the world's first transatlantic flight to run on 100% sustainable aviation from London Heathrow to New York JFK.

The flight was to demonstrate that 100% SAF can be used safely as a drop in fuel in existing infrastructure, engines and airframes. The need to scale production is an industry imperative and Virgin says it is committed to "radical collaboration across the energy chain" to support commercialisation ahead of 2030.   

Meanwhile, Virgin Atlantic and fellow Visit USA member Delta Air Lines are marking 10 years of their joint venture since joining forces in 2014 on routes between the U.S. and U.K. The airlines now operate a joint daily schedule of up to 86 daily non-stop flights in both directions between the U.K. and the U.S. – nearly 40% more than in 2014.