Virgin Atlantic is celebrating big for their 40th birthday. At the kickoff of the birthday celebrations an exciting new route resumption was announced. Virgin Atlantic will resume nonstop service between London Heathrow (LHR) and Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) beginning March 30, 2025. Additionally Virgin Atlantic kicked off their service from Manchester UK to Las Vegas showcasing the airline’s commitment to growth and innovation for the next 40 years.
Connectivity To The UK, India And Beyond
Virgin Atlantic will capitalize on connecting passengers to other destinations when flying between London And Toronto. In partnership with WestJet, Virgin Atlantic passengers will be able to connect onwards to places like Calgary and Vancouver. Passengers will also be able to connect to India and the middle east on SkyTeam Partner Middle East Airlines and codeshare partner IndiGo. This is a strategy that Virgin Atlantic is utilizing to better connect passengers beyond Virgin Atlantic’s “in house” network.
Born To Be Different
Since Virgin Atlantic’s first flight from London Gatwick to Newark in June 1984 the airline placed an emphasis on doing things differently. This included industry firsts such as seatback TV monitors, inflight bars and the introduction of premium economy. With all the innovations, Virgin Atlantic founder Sir Richard Branson placed a heavy emphasis on the people, which have fueled Virgin Atlantic through the 40 years of the airlines existence. At the kickoff press event at the Virgin Hotels Las Vegas he had this to say, “from 1984 to 2024, it’s our people who make me the proudest. They are much more than just a workforce; they are what makes Virgin Atlantic special. They’re the red thread that keeps us all together and I know they will continue to look after our customers for the next 40 years and beyond.” Shai Weiss, CEO, Virgin Atlantic, commented; “Richard is the original entrepreneur, who brought a pioneering new approach to air travel in 1984, bringing much-needed competition to the skies. Forty years later and while we have evolved from a challenger to a leader, the same things set us apart. Today we’re looking ahead to the future and the red thread we’ll carry forward. Our people are our superpower, and their ruby red spirit is stronger than ever. Our customers mean the world to us and we exist to make them smile, it’s that simple. We’ll continue to make aviation a better place for everyone, as intended since day one.