Virgin Atlantic has launched new routes from Heathrow to São Paulo, Brazil and Bengaluru, India.
The airline had also announced the return of Manchester to Las Vegas and Heathrow to Dubai, in addition to new routes to the Maldives and Turks & Caicos, and new inter-island flying in the Caribbean.
Customers are set to benefit from more than 250,000 total additional seats across Virgin Atlantic’s network, compared to 2019.
The airline is moving into South America with a brand-new daily flight from London Heathrow to São Paulo, Brazil.
São Paulo is a key hub in Brazil for Virgin Atlantic’s codeshare partner and South America’s largest airline, LATAM.
The partnership provides customers with onward connections to 12 domestic airports in Brazil, including Rio de Janeiro, Salvador and Florianopolis.
Customers travelling from São Paulo to London Heathrow can connect onto Virgin Atlantic’s rest of world destinations through Terminal 3 including Tel Aviv, Delhi and Shanghai.
Bengaluru (Bangalore) will become the airline’s third destination and fourth daily service to India.
Since 2019, Virgin Atlantic has increased its capacity to India by 250%, the airline’s largest area of growth outside the United States.
Launching in Summer 2024, the addition of this new route means the airline will offer 500,000 seats (total) each year between the UK and India.
Its growing codeshare with IndiGo, India’s leading airline, flies to 34 destinations across the country.
The new service will offer seamless connectivity and a premium long-haul experience for those customers connecting via London Heathrow to North America including Seattle, San Francisco and New York JFK, with Virgin Atlantic and transatlantic joint venture partner, Delta Air Lines.
Last week Virgin Atlantic announced its return to Dubai, operating seasonally from October through to March four times a week.
The airline expects the new route to be a hit with leisure customers, capturing increased demand for premium holidays in sunny destinations.
As well as flying customers, Virgin Atlantic will offer 20 tonnes of cargo capacity on each flight.
The news follows new route announcements to the Maldives and Turks and Caicos, as well as inter-island flying in the Caribbean, between Barbados and Grenada and St Vincent and the Grenadines.
Manchester Airport, the airline’s home in the North, will receive new flights, with the relaunch of seasonal summer services between Manchester and Las Vegas, three times a week.
Shai Weiss, CEO, Virgin Atlantic, commented;
“We’re excited to announce a range of new routes across three continents, giving our customers the opportunity to fly in style with Virgin Atlantic. From our entrance into South America to our expansion in India and the growth of our premium sun portfolio, there is something for all of our customers to experience.
“By leveraging the power of our strategic partners, and welcoming our state-of-the-art, brand new A350 and A339 aircraft, customers can rely on Virgin Atlantic to connect them to where they need to be, enjoying a premium customer experience, delivered by our amazing crew. Our plan is working, positioning us to return to profitability in 2024.”
Flights from London Heathrow to São Paulo’s Guarulhos International Airport will operate daily on the airline’s flagship Boeing 787-9, from 13 May 2024. Flights are set to be on sale from August, with fares starting from £655.
Flights to Bengaluru will operate on Virgin Atlantic’s Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft from 31 March 2024, boasting 31 Upper Class, 35 Premium and 192 Economy Delight, Classic and Light seats, as well as the airline’s signature Upper Class social space.
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