Virgin Atlantic: Soaring to New Heights in 2024
Virgin Atlantic is a major British airline, owned by Sir Richard Branson. Recently, Chief Executive Shai Weiss addressed an audience of partners, journalists, and frequent flyers.
He kicked off with a lighthearted tease at rival British Airways, getting a laugh from the crowd. But then, he shifted to the serious stuff: Virgin Atlantic’s plan for growth.
Weiss unveiled bold strategies to make 2024 a year of transformation. For the first time since the pandemic, Virgin Atlantic reported a profit. With just 43 aircraft—compared to British Airways’ 253—the airline is fiercely targeting the premium travel market.
Virgin is focused and ambitious, punching above its weight to re-establish itself as a leader in the skies.
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Virgin to Offer Free Starlink Wi-Fi for All Passengers
Virgin Atlantic is set to become the latest airline to offer free Starlink Wi-Fi across its entire fleet, available to all passengers, regardless of cabin class. This move mirrors Delta’s 2023 initiative with ViaSat, aiming to boost SkyMiles memberships. Similarly, Virgin plans to attract more members to its Flying Club loyalty program. To access the Wi-Fi, passengers must create a Virgin Atlantic Flying Club account.
Rollout Timeline
The Starlink installations will begin in Q3 2026, with full completion expected by the end of 2027. The process requires outfitting each aircraft with Starlink radomes, a task that takes time. Other airlines like United, Hawaiian, and Qatar Airways are also partnering with Starlink.
Mission and Quality
Virgin Atlantic’s goal is to provide streaming-quality, free Wi-Fi for all Flying Club members. The company acknowledges the complexity of the rollout, with testing and financing involved to ensure the program runs smoothly. “Things don’t happen overnight,” said Weiss to Forbes. “The mission is to deliver high-quality Wi-Fi to all passengers, and everyone is free to sign up.”
Virgin Atlantic Expands Upper Class & Premium Seating
Virgin Atlantic is responding to growing demand for premium travel by boosting the number of Upper Class seats, similar to international business class. Currently, these seats are 90% sold on average.
As part of a $17 billion fleet upgrade, Virgin Atlantic is adding new aircraft. By 2028, its fleet will include:
— 19 Airbus A330-900neos
— 12 Airbus A350-1000s
— 14 Boeing 787-9s
Starting in late 2025, the new A330s will offer:
— 6 Retreat Suites
— 42 Upper Class pods
— 56 Premium recliners
— 128 Economy seats
The redesigned Boeing 787-9s will include:
— 44 Upper Class pods
— 56 Premium recliners
— 127 Economy seats (down from 192)
This overhaul will add 400 more Upper Class seats daily on popular routes like New York, Boston, Tampa, Miami, and Orlando. The project is set to finish by 2030.
Virgin Atlantic Launches AI Travel App
Virgin is also releasing a next-generation travel app developed with OpenAI, Deloitte Digital, Apple, and Google. The focus is better personalization for Flying Club members, launching December 2024.
With tech from OpenAI’s Realtime API and Tomoro.ai, the app will feature an AI concierge. Travelers can:
— Chat with the bot
— Search and book flights and holidays
— Plan their entire journey inside the app
This move puts Virgin Atlantic at the forefront in European aviation tech, creating a true Super App for travel.
The new app will roll together data from the current Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Holidays apps, plus the main website. The airline has studied top apps in travel, retail, entertainment, and wellness to deliver a top-tier user experience.
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Virgin’s Partnership with Joby: Revolutionizing Air Travel
Virgin Atlantic has teamed up with Joby Aviation, a leading electric air taxi startup, aiming to provide fast, short-haul flights between airport hubs and cities across the UK. The electric flight service is expected to launch by the end of the decade, pending necessary regulatory and safety approvals.
What Does This Partnership Mean?
This collaboration is part of Virgin’s broader plan to advance sustainability and explore innovative flying solutions. The eVTOL aircraft will offer a clean, emissions-free travel option, transforming the way passengers get to airports. The goal is to make the final 100 miles from your home to the airport much faster and less stressful than the current car-based travel.
Joby’s Global Launch Plan
Virgin isn’t the first airline to partner with Joby. Delta Airlines, which holds a 49% stake in Virgin Atlantic, also became an investor in Joby in 2022. The plan is for Joby to first launch its services in Dubai, followed by the United States, and finally in the UK with Virgin Atlantic.
CEO Shai Weiss and Siobhan Fitzpatrick, Chief Experience Officer, shared their excitement, emphasizing that this partnership will not only reduce emissions but also create a new way of flying. «We should be the third market to launch Joby in the world, and it should be an exciting thing,» Weiss concluded.
Ready for a New Kind of Travel?
This partnership marks a milestone in air travel innovation. If you’re looking to experience the future of transportation, book your vacation with MWR LIFE now, and be part of the next revolution in flying!