Virgin Atlantic is to join the SkyTeam airline alliance from early 2023 when it will become the group’s first and only UK-based carrier.
The move by long-haul specialist Virgin Atlantic will give SkyTeam a much larger presence at the crucial European hub of London Heathrow airport, with the airline’s CEO Shai Weiss saying “SkyTeam being in London is a big deal”.
The decision was announced during a press conference in the City of London on Tuesday (27 September), with Weiss adding that the Covid-19 pandemic had taught Virgin the importance of partnership in the aviation industry.
“The strength of any company is enhanced by partnership,” said Weiss. “We’ve said every year since 2014 that we were getting closer to SkyTeam and now there is no reason to say no.
“Our membership will allow us to enhance established relationships with our valued partners at Delta and Air France-KLM, as well as opening up opportunities to collaborate with new airlines. It will enable a seamless customer experience, with an expanded network and maximised loyalty benefits.”
Virgin Atlantic already has interline agreements with all 18 current SkyTeam member airlines, as well as codeshares with carriers such as Aeromexico and Middle East Airlines.
“More codeshares will follow in the next few months,” added Weiss. “That’s a big factor for us – we want to increase the ability for our travellers to travel seamlessly.”
Joining SkyTeam will give Virgin Atlantic passengers access to more than 1,000 destinations around the world, as well as 750-plus airport lounges. They will also have “more opportunities” to earn and redeem loyalty points across the alliance’s members.
Virgin is one of the founding partners of a transatlantic joint venture with key SkyTeam members Delta Air Lines and Air France-KLM.
Weiss stressed the importance of getting this joint venture to the “next level”, which meant that any plans to revive a short-haul feeder services had been “grounded for some time”.
“We have had the aspiration for a short-haul network into Manchester and Heathrow but that’s probably going to be delayed indefinitely. It might come back one day,” said Weiss during the press conference.
Weiss also ruled out Virgin Atlantic returning to London Gatwick in 2023, despite JV partner Delta announcing earlier this week that it would restart flights from London’s second airport in summer 2023 for the first time in more than a decade.
“I’m glad Delta is flying to Gatwick – we have been concentrating our efforts on Heathrow and that’s paid off for customers because it’s more efficient and has more connectivity,” added Weiss.
While he praised Gatwick for the way it had operated during the busy summer, he added that the problem for the airport was the lack of connectivity to feed Virgin’s long-haul flights.
“It’s not in the plans for 2023 for Virgin Atlantic to fly from Gatwick,” confirmed Weiss.
Kristin Colvile, SkyTeam’s CEO, said she was “thrilled” to welcome Virgin Atlantic to SkyTeam, which will become the first new airline to join the alliance in more than eight years.
“Virgin Atlantic will benefit from increased opportunities to expand its global network through partnerships and synergies: customers will have more ways to earn and burn miles while enjoying the service for which Virgin Atlantic is renowned,” added Colvile.