Aviation

Virgin Atlantic and China Eastern launch new Codeshare partnership

Virgin Atlantic and China Eastern are thrilled to announce a new codeshare agreement, which strengthens vital business and leisure connections to East Asia and expands access to more destinations throughout China.

The first phase of the agreement will enable Virgin Atlantic customers to connect seamlessly from the airline’s Heathrow to Shanghai services to other destinations in China on a single ticket, including Chengdu, Changsha, Qingdao, Shenzhen, and Xi’an. These destinations’ flights are currently on sale.

Subject to government approval, China Eastern customers will soon be able to connect through Heathrow to Caribbean and African destinations such as Jamaica, Nassau, Lagos, Cape Town, and Johannesburg.

Virgin Atlantic joined the SkyTeam alliance last year, and China Eastern is one of its fellow members. The two airlines have had a convenient co-location at Shanghai Pudong Terminal One since November. Members of China Eastern Miles and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Gold and Silver can benefit from SkyPriority services here, such as priority check-in, boarding, and additional baggage.

Members of Flying Club can now earn Virgin Points and Tier Points on every codeshare flight with China Eastern, which expedites the process of reaching rewards. It is anticipated that the ability to spend Virgin Points will arrive soon.

Aviation

Aeroflot Buys Used Planes for Spare Parts Amid Sanctions

In the face of ongoing Western sanctions that have severely impacted Russia’s aviation industry, Aeroflot, the country’s largest airline, has devised a strategic plan to bolster its fleet’s spare parts inventory.

The airline is set to acquire five Boeing 737-800BCF freighters from Atran Airlines, a move that will allow it to dismantle the aircraft for critical components. The planes, which will be transferred to Aeroflot’s low-cost subsidiary Pobeda, will not be converted into passenger jets but instead will be stripped for valuable parts to support existing operations.

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Aeroflot’s plan to purchase these Boeing 737-800BCF freighters comes as part of a broader strategy to mitigate the effects of Western sanctions, which have crippled the Russian aviation sector. With the sanctions restricting access to essential aircraft parts and spare components, Aeroflot is exploring alternative ways to maintain and repair its fleet.

Instead of converting the freighters from cargo to passenger planes, a process deemed “unreasonably expensive” under current sanctions, the airline intends to focus on extracting high-value components such as engines, landing gear, avionics, and other essential systems.

The deal will be structured in a way that allows Aeroflot to indirectly purchase the freighters through an insurance settlement with the aircraft’s lessor, AerCap.

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The Russian government’s insurance company will reimburse the aircraft’s value, and the planes will then be leased back to local operators. This method circumvents some of the restrictions imposed by international sanctions while ensuring that the airline gains access to the necessary components to support its fleet.

By dismantling the aircraft for spare parts, Aeroflot aims to secure critical resources for the ongoing maintenance of its existing fleet. Components from the Boeing 737-800BCF freighters, such as engines and avionics, are expected to be reused in other aircraft within Aeroflot’s network, ensuring that the airline can keep its operations running smoothly