Virgin Atlantic has announced plans for future growth and success with a focus on both its network and customer experience.
Leveraging its joint venture with Delta, Virgin Atlantic plans to expand its network by increasing flights from the U.K. to the U.S., while continuing to fly to major destinations in the rest of the world. These changes will provide up to five new daily transatlantic flights, and log 500 more Virgin Atlantic flights in total in summer 2015 compared to summer 2014.
Proposed network changes include a new daily flight from London to Detroit, New York (JFK), and Los Angeles, among other flights from the U.K. to the U.S. In order to accommodate these changes, Virgin Atlantic is withdrawing operations from Tokyo, Mumbai, Cape Town, and Vancouver.
“Transatlantic flying has always been at the heart of our network and our most financially successful region,” said Virgin Atlantic Chief Executive Craig Kreeger. “Today’s announcement allows us to play to our strengths and focus our network on routes between the U.K. and U.S., as well as other critical global destinations that are most important to our customers.”
Virgin Atlantic has also expressed a commitment to strengthening its customer experience, with £300m slated to be invested in these efforts by the end of 2018, on the ground and in the air. In addition, its fleet modernisation programme will cost more than £2bn and provide for its first Boeing 787-9, giving Virgin Atlantic one of the youngest fleets in the world.
“Our ambition is to be profitable for the long term, earn competitive returns, and invest those into providing the very best experience for our customers on the routes they most want to fly,” Kreeger added. “We are confident that with this strengthened network, our new aircraft and our welcoming people delivering unrivalled service, we have all the right ingredients to achieve long-term success.”