Aviation
10 Interesting things you didn’t know about Virgin Airline.
1.In July 2017, Virgin Atlantic announced their intention to form a joint venture with Air France-KLM. Under the agreement, Air France-KLM will acquire a 31 percent stake in Virgin Atlantic currently held by Virgin Group.
The enhanced joint venture would establish a combined partnership with a duration of at least 15 years. In order to support the success of that cooperation:
Air France-KLM will acquire a 31 percent stake in Virgin Atlantic currently held by Virgin Group for £220 million.
Virgin Group will retain a 20 percent stake and Chairmanship.
2. Virgin produced the first film to be shot at 35,000ft on three commercial flights
In 2012, the romantic comedy Departure Date (starring Ben Feldman and Nicky Whelan) was filmed for eight days straight on flights between LA, London, and Sydney. As per the airline’s regulations, the film crew were only allowed two carry-ons each, and couldn’t film when the seat belt light came on. The cast and crew racked up a total of 28,358 miles, and some of the paying commercial passengers were featured as extras. Watch here.
3. Steve Fossett singlehandedly flew around the world in a Virgin plane
The Scaled Composites Model 311 Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer (registered N277SF) is an aircraft designed by Burt Rutan in which Steve Fossett flew a solo nonstop airplane flight around the world in 2 days 19 hours and 1 minute (67 hours 1 minute) from February 28 to March 3, 2005. The flight speed of 590.7 kilometres per hour (367.0 mph) set the world record for the fastest nonstop non-refueled circumnavigation, beating the mark set by the previous Rutan-designed Voyager aircraft at 9 days 3 minutes and an average speed of 116 miles per hour (187 km/h).
The aircraft was owned by the pilot Steve Fossett, sponsored by Richard Branson’s airline, Virgin Atlantic, and built by Burt Rutan’s company, Scaled Composites. The two companies subsequently went on to work together on Virgin Galactic.
4. Delta Air Lines owns 49 percent of Virgin Atlantic
Yep. In June 2013, Delta Air Lines bought a 49 percent stake in Virgin Atlantic from Singapore Airlines for $360 million. It might seem like a strange investment, but it’s well worth it for Delta, which now gets to fly its customers more frequently to London’s Heathrow Airport.
10 Interesting things you didn’t know about Virgin Airline. Courtesy : Wikimedia
5. Virgin Atlantic. Humble with a Touch of Glamour.
Virgin Atlantic is the brainchild of the mildly eclectic CEO, Sir Richard Branson, but did you know it was never his intention to start an airline? Virgin Atlantic was actually born out of a truly magical love story. Sir Richard Branson was on his way from Puerto Rico to meet a beautiful woman in the British Virgin Islands but was unfortunately left stranded along with other passengers. In a momentary act of valour, Richard Branson hired a plane, wrote on a blackboard “Virgin Air, $39 single flight” and the thought of starting Virgin Atlantic was born.
6. Cats and dogs can earn Velocity Frequent Flyer Points when they travel with Virgin Airlines.
Velocity Frequent Flyer, the award-winning loyalty program of Virgin Australia today launched Australia’s first frequent flyer program for pets.
Breaking new ground in the loyalty space, from today, Velocity members can now earn 300 Points each time their dog or cat flies on Virgin Australia’s expansive domestic network. Silver, Gold and Platinum members will also receive a special Points bonus.
Building on the program’s unique family benefits, today’s announcement makes Velocity the only frequent flyer program in Australia to recognize and reward four legged members of the family.
7. Virgin America was the first airline to make foldable boarding passes.
Boarding passes are stupid. They don’t fit in passports, or pockets, or wallets. And by the time you hand over your dog-eared, crumpled document to a clerk behind the check-in desk, you’re bound to get a disapproving sneer.
Well, everyone’s favorite airline Virgin America is finally offering the simple solution in the form of a sexy, fold-friendly boarding pass. The document includes personal details, flight number, departure and arrival time, gate and terminal, along with the cabin and seat allocation. And it fits right into your back pocket, because that makes sense, and it’s ridiculous no airline has done this before.
10 Interesting things you didn’t know about Virgin Airline. Courtesy : Wikimedia
8. Richard Branson, the founder of Virgin America, owns his very own island.
Richard Branson had been madly trying to come up with a way to impress a girl he had fallen for, so he rang up the realtor, and expressed his interest. they were still in the early days of Virgin Records, and he by no means had the cash to buy an island. Luckily, the realtor didn’t know this and offered me an all-expenses paid trip to see the Islands that weekend. He agreed to go on one condition – if he could bring a guest.
when the realtor quoted the ‘discounted’ asking price of $6 million, Smitten with the unspoilt paradise, and keen to impress his new love, he offered the highest amount he could afford: $100,000. As you can imagine, the realtor was less than impressed, and left us high and dry to find our own way back home.
A year later, a charming man named Derek Dunlop arrived at his houseboat in London and explained that nobody else had made an offer on Necker, and that the owner of the Island was desperate to sell. Virgin Records was in a much better position than it had been a year before, so he quickly agreed to a purchase price of $180,000 – the only condition was that he would need to build a resort on the Island within four years.
9. Virgin Australia has been recognised as the most attractive employer in Australia in 2015 at the annual Randstad Award. It also placed in the top 3 for the last five years, including a top spot in 2011.
Amongst fierce competition, Virgin Australia has been named Australia’s Most Attractive Employer at the annual Randstad Award at Doltone House in Sydney.
With half of all Aussies (50%) claiming they would like to work for the aviation giant, Virgin Australia held off strong competition to edge out two-time winner, the ABC, who came in second place and the Department of Immigration & Border Protection who took out the third spot.
10 Interesting things you didn’t know about Virgin Airline. Courtesy : Wikimedia
10. Virgin Defunct airlines
- V Australia (Rebrand to Virgin Australia with Virgin Blue & Virgin Polynesia)
- Virgin Nigeria (rebrand to Air Nigeria)
- Virgin Express (rebrand to Brussels Airlines)
- Virgin Express France
- Virgin Sun (sold and merged into Air 2000)
- Virgin Atlantic Little Red
- Virgin Samoa
- Airline enters South America by launching new daily service to São Paulo, Brazil
- India expansion continues with new route to Bengaluru, India (Bangalore)
- Premium sun offering bolstered by return of Manchester to Las Vegas and Heathrow to Dubai, in addition to new routes to the Maldives and Turks & Caicos
- New inter-island flying in the Caribbean reaffirms airline’s commitment to the region, offering locals and holidaymakers island hopping
- Arrival of state-of-the-art new aircraft continues, in parallel with the recruitment of 350 additional award-winning cabin crew
Today, Virgin Atlantic announced the opening of thrilling new routes with all-new planes on three continents. With more than 250,000 total additional seats* across Virgin Atlantic’s network, compared to 2019, customers are expected to benefit from network growth as the airline takes advantage of the ongoing demand for international travel.
By adding a brand-new daily flight from London Heathrow to So Paulo, Brazil, the airline will expand its network of international routes. One of the world’s most populated cities, Sao Paulo, is home to numerous international corporations, giving corporate clients and business visitors the chance to fly in the Virgin Atlantic fashion.
Three new A380 destinations, three continents, one day(Opens in a new browser tab)
Signalling expansion in the country, Bengaluru (Bangalore) will become the airline’s third destination and fourth daily service to India. Since 2019, Virgin Atlantic has increased capacity to India by 250%, the airline’s largest area of growth outside the United States. Launching in Summer 2024, the addition of this new route means the airline will offer 500,000 seats (total) each year between the UK and India, while its growing codeshare with IndiGo, India’s leading airline, flies to 34 destinations across the country.
Providing customer connectivity remains a focus, working with a range of world class partners. Alongside expanded joint venture partners Delta Air Lines, Air France and KLM, the airline joined SkyTeam alliance in March 2023, meaning customers benefit from a consistent, seamless customer experience, across 1,000 global destinations in over 170 countries, with a further codeshare announcement with Korean Air since launch.
Virgin Atlantic Fined for Operating Flights in Prohibited Airspace(Opens in a new browser tab)
By the end of 2024, the airline will have received its full order of 12 Airbus A350s, as well as the arrival of a further four A330neos. To support the operation, 350 additional cabin crew will be recruited to join the airline’s award-winning frontline team in delivering its renowned customer service.
Flights from London Heathrow to São Paulo’s Guarulhos International Airport will operate daily on the airline’s flagship Boeing 787-9, from 13 May 2024. Flights are set to be on sale from August, with fares starting from £655. Flights to Bengaluru will operate on Virgin Atlantic’s Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft from 31 March 2024, boasting 31 Upper Class, 35 Premium and 192 Economy Delight, Classic and Light seats, as well as the airline’s signature Upper-Class social space.
Route Aircraft On Sale Launch Date Frequency LHR-DXB-LHR Boeing 787-9 07 June 2023 28 October 2023 X4 weekly,October 2023- March 2024 MAN-LAS-MAN Boeing 787-9 July 2023 2 June 2024 X3 Summer LHR-BLR-LHR Boeing 787-9 14 June 2023 31 March 2024 Daily – year round LHR-GRU-LHR Boeing 787-9 August 2023 13 May 2024 Daily – year round LHR-MLE-LHR Boeing 787-9 On sale now 22 October 2023 X3 weekly, October 2023- March 2024 LHR-PLS-LHR Boeing 787-9 On sale now 4 November 2023 X2 weekly, year round BGI-SVD-BGI AirbusA330-300 On sale now 14 June 2023 X2 Summer 2023/ X3 Winter 2023 BGI-GND-BGI AirbusA330-300 On sale now 14 June 2023 X2 Summer 2023/ X3 Winter 2023
A well-known aircraft manufacturer, Embraer, is in talks to partner up with Tata Group and Mahindra Group to build up local manufacturing capabilities in India. With the help of this strategic alliance, India’s aerospace sector will expand, domestic manufacturing will be strengthened, and jobs will be generated.
“Tata told us that their initial focus would be on large aircraft, including Airbus and Boeing. After that, they would consider smaller, regional aircraft, and there is the market where we are,” according to president and CEO Francisco Gomes Neto.
While Airbus and Boeing dominate the market for bigger commercial planes, Embraer is a market leader in regional aviation. By the end of 2023, the business wants to have decided on an Indian partner for the production of defense aircraft.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) is looking for medium-transport aircraft that have a lifting capacity of 18 to 30 tonnes. It aims to finish this search by 2025 or 2026. The C-390 Millennium multi-mission tactical air transport aircraft, the newest defense offering from Embraer, which debuted the plane at Aero India 2023 in Bengaluru in February, has been pushed for the order.
According to CEO Neto, Embraer sees “a good opportunity” in India. “The IAF has already seen our aircraft, and they approve. We have received positive feedback about the C-390 Millennium from nations like the Netherlands. We believe that the C-390 Millennium is the greatest option for that size of aircraft.
The Indian defense aviation market is not new to Embraer. The business has previously worked with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to produce three Netra airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft based on the ERJ145 platform of Embraer, which are used by the Indian Air Force (IAF). The IAF and the Border Security Force (BSF) both use Embraer Legacy 600 aircraft to fly VIPs and government officials.
The partnership combines the skills and strengths of each partner. Together with Tata Group’s manufacturing capabilities and Mahindra Group’s technical know-how, Embraer’s extensive domain understanding and technological expertise in the aerospace sector form a potent partnership that can provide high-quality products and solutions.
Embraer, Tata Group, and Mahindra Group’s cooperation paves the way for sustained success and growth. This cooperation can investigate the potential in both domestic and foreign markets as the demand for aircraft goods and services keeps growing. Together, it can boost India’s position as a major center of manufacturing, which would benefit the country’s aerospace sector as well.
The first of two livery designs, branded “a perfect blend of cutting-edge technology and timeless elegance,” was unveiled today by Riyadh Air. The livery is being shown on a Boeing 787-9, of which the airline has placed orders for up to 72 (including 39 definite orders and 33 options).
The livery of Riyadh Air features a purple fuselage and a light blue tail painted with the RX logo. As on the Saudi Arabian Airlines (SV) livery, the airline’s name is featured at the front of the fuselage in both English and Arabic alongside the Saudi Arabian flag.
5 Facts About Saudi Arabia’s Newest Riyadh Air(Opens in a new browser tab)
Riyadh Air’s CEO , Tony Douglas, stated: “The new airline represents the ambitious aim of Saudi Arabia to be at the center of creating the future of global air travel and be a true disruptor in terms of customer experience.
“To create a smooth travel experience, Riyadh Air’s dedication to its clients will see the merging of digital innovation and genuine Saudi hospitality. Our new 787-9s will serve as a foundation for our global operations, as we build a wider network and connect our passengers to Saudi Arabia and many other destinations around the world, as we position the airline as both a global connector and a vehicle to drive tourist and business travel to Saudi Arabia.
Additionally, Riyadh Air announced that the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has granted it the “RX” airline designator code. We wanted something with a modernist feel and a digital edge, Douglas added. Early 2025 is the anticipated start date for operations. The airline placed an order for 72 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners in March, and up to 150 Boeing 737 Max planes are anticipated to follow soon.
The new airline is anticipated to increase the Kingdom’s non-oil gross domestic product by up to 75 billion riyals and generate more than 200,000 direct and indirect jobs. Additionally, the business plans to move up to five million tonnes of freight each year.
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