- Customers can now book to travel on the latest addition to Virgin Atlantic’s fleet
- Aircraft features brand new upper class cabin and social space
- First flight to New York to take place in September
From today, customers can now book flights on Virgin Atlantic’s brand new A350 aircraft, featuring an entirely redesigned upper class cabin, as well as the airline’s unique social space- The Loft.
The aircraft’s first commercial service, is expected to take place on the 10th September[i] from London Heathrow to New York JFK. Travellers can now book flights via the Virgin Atlantic website and contact centre from as little as £279 return in economy, £773 in Premium and £1358 in Upper Class.
The introductory schedule is expected to be as follows;
10th – 24th September
VS153 LHR-JFK
VS138 JFK-LHR
Both flights will operate daily, except for Thursdays when the aircraft will be in planned maintenance
25th September – 26th October
VS137 LHR –JFK
VS138 JFK-LHR except Thursdays (from 27th October, scheduled maintenance will switch to Tuesdays.)
Four A350s, Mamma Mia, Red Velvet, Rain Bow and Queen of Hearts, will join the airline’s fleet by the end of 2019. All four aircraft will initially fly between London Heathrow and New York JFK. Virgin Atlantic will continue to take delivery of a further eight A350’s throughout 2020- 2021 with full schedule and destination information set to be revealed in due course.
All of the airline’s initial A350 deliveries will be based at London Heathrow. The final five planes will offer a leisure configuration and will operate routes to Florida and the Caribbean from London Gatwick and Manchester Airport. These deliveries will take place in 2021 as the airline beings to retire its 747 fleet.
The A350 is the first aircraft for Virgin Atlantic that has the new social space known as The Loft. As the largest social space in the airline’s fleet, it’s designed for customers to gather, chat, enjoy a drink or dine with friends. The A350 also offers an entirely redesigned upper class suite, with window facing seats and deployable privacy screens. Customers travelling in Virgin Atlantic’s award winning Premium cabin and its much loved Economy cabin will also be able to enjoy the increased levels of luxury and comfort the A350 has to offer, including the largest ever entertainment screens.
The news today follows Virgin Atlantic’s recent announcement in June that it was to be the first UK airline to announce a firm order for 14 Airbus A330-900neos, with an additional six as options, reaffirming its commitment to flying the cleanest, greenest fleet in the sky.
[i] We want our customers to experience the new A350 as soon as possible, so we may move the inaugural flight earlier, if the operation allows.