Airlines

Virgin Atlantic launches first-ever South American service to Sao Paulo

Virgin Atlantic will begin offering flights to São Paulo, Brazil, on September 6. The airline’s thrilling new route will begin daily service on May 13, 2024, with roundtrip Economy rates starting at £686 per person. The 11-hour, 55-minute flight will be operated by a Boeing 787 aircraft and will be the airline’s first route to the South American continent.

São Paulo, one of the world’s most populous cities, is home to global corporations, giving corporate clients and business travellers the opportunity to fly in Virgin Atlantic flair. The city is known as Brazil’s cuisine capital, a lively metropolis with an abundance of arts and cultural events that will enthral experience hungry leisure travellers.

Three new A380 destinations, three continents, one day(Opens in a new browser tab)

Brazil’s status as South America’s leading import and export country will make São Paulo a popular freight route. Virgin Atlantic aims to handle frequent shipments of car parts, pharmaceuticals, food, and agricultural items with multiple tonnes of capacity each day, contributing to £7.7 billion** in yearly trade between the two countries.

Additionally, customers travelling from São Paulo to London Heathrow will have the option to smoothly connect to Virgin Atlantic’s rest of world destinations through Terminal 3 – home of the airline’s award-winning Clubhouse – including Tel Aviv, Delhi, Mumbai and Shanghai.

Virgin Atlantic to start daily flights from UK to São Paulo, Brazil and Bengaluru(Opens in a new browser tab)

The airline will return to Dubai in October 2023 to expand chances for clients seeking premium winter sun. There will also be a new seasonal route to Las Vegas from Manchester Airport, the airline’s northern hub, beginning in June 2024.

Cabin	Return fare per person
Economy	£ 686
Premium	£1126
Upper	£2744

Service operates: London Heathrow (LHR) – Sao Paulo (GRU)

Frequency: Daily, year-round, launching 13 May 2024

Flight number: VS193 / VS194

Schedule: LHR-GRU 12:45 – 20:20 and GRU-LHR 22:10 – 13:25

Aircraft: Boeing 787-9

Configuration: 31 Upper Class, 35 Premium, 192 Economy

What’s included: A full service onboard offering including complimentary food and drink and over 300 hours of entertainment (movies, TV and music). All aircraft are WiFi-enabled.

Airlines

DOT Proposes New Passenger Compensation Rules for Flight Disruptions

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has unveiled a major initiative to enhance protections for air travelers affected by flight cancellations or significant delays caused by airlines.

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This Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) seeks public feedback on new measures that could require airlines to compensate passengers and provide necessary services automatically.

Key Proposals by the DOT:

Cash Compensation for Airline-Caused Disruptions
- Airlines may be required to pay passengers at least $200 in cash for flight disruptions caused by circumstances under their control, such as mechanical issues or IT failures.
- A tiered compensation system is being considered:
  - $200–$300 for domestic delays of 3–6 hours.
  - $375–$525 for delays lasting 6–9 hours.
  - $750–$775 for delays exceeding 9 hours.
- The DOT is exploring whether smaller airlines should have different compensation thresholds and whether compensation is needed if passengers are notified weeks in advance of a disruption.
Free Rebooking on the Next Available Flight
- Airlines may be obligated to rebook passengers at no extra cost if a flight is canceled or delayed by at least 3 hours domestically or 6 hours internationally.
- Rebooking options may include:
  - Flights operated by the airline or its codeshare partners.
  - Flights on other carriers with which the airline has a commercial agreement if no suitable options are available within 24 hours.
Provision of Meals, Lodging, and Transportation
- Airlines may need to cover meals, overnight accommodations, and transportation for stranded passengers.
- Minimum reimbursements could be established when services aren’t provided upfront, ensuring passengers can recoup costs even without submitting receipts, up to a defined limit.

The DOT’s proposals draw inspiration from consumer protection frameworks in countries like Canada, Brazil, the UK, and the European Union. Research suggests that EU compensation requirements have successfully reduced the frequency and length of delays, demonstrating the effectiveness of such measures.

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Passengers currently face numerous hurdles when seeking compensation or services, including vague policies, lack of upfront communication, and reliance on in-person requests at airports. The new rulemaking aims to close these gaps by establishing clear, enforceable standards for airlines.

Public input on the proposed measures will shape the final rules. The DOT hopes these changes will create a more accountable and passenger-friendly system, ensuring travelers are better supported during disruptions.

With these proposed rules, the DOT seeks to make airline travel more reliable and fair, setting a new standard for passenger rights in the United States.