Virgin Atlantic
Since it was founded twenty-three years ago, Virgin Atlantic Airways has become Britain’s second largest airline serving the world’s major cities. Virgin Atlantic is the quintessential Virgin story. It has every ingredient: the small newcomer taking on the giant and complacent establishment, the people’s champion introducing better service and lower costs for passengers with a reputation for quality and innovative product development.
Virgin Atlantic was developed as an offshoot of Richard Branson’s Virgin Group, which was better known at the time in the world of pop and rock music. In early 1984, Branson was contacted by an Anglo-US lawyer called Randolph Fields with a proposal for involvement in a new airline. Recognising that, like the music business, aviation was a consumer led industry, and tired of the conveyor belt attitude to passengers, Branson decided it was time for Virgin to diversify. His fellow directors thought he was mad – particularly when he announced the new airline would begin operating in just over three months.
Never one to take ‘no’ for an answer, Branson’s infectious enthusiasm ensured that staff were hired, an aircraft was found, licences were obtained and the uniforms were designed. It was not easy, especially with incidents such as an engine failure on the eve of the airline’s maiden flight. On 22 June 1984 Virgin’s inaugural flight to Newark took place, a flight filled with friends, celebrities and the media. The airline’s aim was simple: “To provide the highest quality innovative service at excellent value for money for all classes of air travellers”. Hugely popular, Virgin Atlantic has won top business, consumer and trade awards from around the world. The airline has pioneered a range of innovations setting new standards of service. Despite Virgin Atlantic’s growth the service still remains customer driven with an emphasis on value for money, quality, fun and innovation.
From those early days the airline has gone from strength to strength. Now based at London Gatwick, London Heathrow and Manchester airports, it operates longhaul services to USA and Caribbean:
USA
Heathrow – New York (Newark)
Heathrow – New York (JFK)
Heathrow – Miami
Heathrow – Los Angeles
Heathrow – Boston
Heathrow – San Francisco
Heathrow – Washington DC
Heathrow – Chicago
Gatwick – Orlando
Gatwick – Las Vegas
Manchester – Orlando
Caribbean
Gatwick – Barbados
Gatwick – St Lucia
Gatwick – Antigua
Gatwick – Tobago
Gatwick – Granada (via Tobago)
Gatwick – Havana
Gatwick – Montego Bay, Jamaica
Gatwick – Kingston, Jamaica
Gatwick – Puerto Rico
Manchester – St Lucia
Manchester – Barbados
In summer 2003 came the launch of Virgin Atlantic’s revolutionary Upper Class Suite, the longest and most comfortable flat bed and seat in the airline industry. The Upper Class Suite has won twelve of the most prestigious designs awards including a Yellow Pencil award for product design and an IDEA Gold Award for Transport Design.
Since December 2004 Virgin Atlantic has launched services between London and Sydney, Mumbai, Dubai, Havana, Montego Bay, and direct flights between Manchester and Barbados and Manchester and St Lucia. New services from Heathrow included Chicago in April 2007, Nairobi in June 2007 and Mauritius in November 2007. Services between Gatwick and Kingston, Jamaica, launched in October 2007.
