Virgin Atlantic

Virgin Atlantic is a British airline founded by Sir Richard Branson in 1984. Its first flight, to Newark, took place on 22 June 1984. The head office, known as The VHQ, is in Crawley, West Sussex, and the main base is London Heathrow.

Network

The airline says it flies to about 30 destinations across four continents through the year. Long haul services from Heathrow include New York (Newark and JFK), Los Angeles, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Seattle, Atlanta, Washington, Boston, Miami, Hong Kong, Johannesburg, Shanghai, Delhi and Lagos.

Fleet

• Describes its fleet as one of the youngest and most fuel efficient, with an average age under seven years
• Airbus A330-900 aircraft entering service, with five flying at the time of the source page and more due
• Fleet transformation announced with a further A330-900 order

Fleet renewal

Virgin Atlantic has announced that it will complete its fleet transformation with a new Airbus A330-900 order. The airline says it operates five A330-900 aircraft on routes such as New York, Boston and Miami, with three more due later in the year and four more by the end of 2026. Aircraft have been named after Sir Richard Branson as part of the 40th birthday celebrations.

Company facts

• Founded in 1984 by Sir Richard Branson
• Head office: The VHQ, Crawley, West Sussex
• New aircraft named after Sir Richard Branson to mark the airline's 40th birthday