See The World Differently
Founded
1984
Headquarters
Crawley, United Kingdom
Virgin Atlantic Airways is a British long-haul carrier founded by entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson. Operating primarily from London Heathrow and London Gatwick, the airline has built a reputation for innovative cabin design, customer service, and a challenger-brand ethos that has disrupted transatlantic aviation since its first flight in 1984.
The airline serves destinations across North America, the Caribbean, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Virgin Atlantic is jointly owned by Virgin Group (49%) and Delta Air Lines (51%), a partnership that has deepened codeshare and loyalty program integration between the two carriers.
Virgin Atlantic has been a pioneer in premium economy travel, launching one of the first dedicated premium economy cabins in the industry. The airline operates a modern, fuel-efficient widebody fleet and is committed to sustainability targets including the use of sustainable aviation fuel.
Hubs & network
Virgin Atlantic's primary hubs are London Heathrow (LHR) and London Gatwick (LGW), with a focus hub at Manchester (MAN).
Fleet
Virgin Atlantic operates a widebody fleet consisting of Airbus A330-900neo, A350-1000, and Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft.
Notable facts
- ›Virgin Atlantic was founded by Sir Richard Branson and commenced operations on 22 June 1984.
- ›Delta Air Lines owns 51% of Virgin Atlantic, with the Virgin Group retaining 49%.
- ›The airline was among the first to introduce a dedicated premium economy cabin class.
- ›Virgin Atlantic is a founding member of the SkyTeam-affiliated joint venture with Delta and Air France-KLM.
- ›The airline filed for and completed a restructuring process in 2020 following the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This profile is provided for general information only. Contact details may be inaccurate or outdated — always verify with the airline's official website before acting on them.
