Virgin Atlantic has announced three new codeshare arrangements that will begin this year, strengthening connectivity and improving passenger incentives, with the airline once again rewarding its most frequent flyers. It also revealed plans to return to Tel Aviv on September 5, 2024.
Virgin Atlantic collaborates with EL AL and sets a date to return to Tel Aviv.
Virgin Atlantic customers flying between the United Kingdom and Israel have been enjoying the experience since its inception in September 2019. Recently, the airline revealed that it will restart flights between London Heathrow and Tel Aviv on September 5, 2024, for the first time since October 11, 2023. Flights will operate daily on the airline’s Airbus A330 aircraft, with links to 14 US destinations via Heathrow on 33 daily flights operated by Virgin Atlantic and partner Delta Air Lines.
Meanwhile, a new codeshare agreement with EL AL will increase connectivity between the UK, US, and Israel. The two airlines will display codes on their respective London Heathrow and Tel Aviv routes, giving consumers more flexibility, frequencies (up to four daily flights), and options when traveling between the UK and Israel. The collaboration will provide reciprocal earning and redemption opportunities, as well as premium customer recognition and tier perks for frequent flyers such as Flying Club and EL AL’s Matmid program. Virgin Atlantic clients will be able to travel on EL AL’s services from Tel Aviv to Heathrow and then connect to the US, reaching 11 US locations on 23 daily flights.
Team SkyTeam
Virgin Atlantic became SkyTeam’s first and sole UK member airline in March 2023, and the alliance is pleased to welcome its newest member, SAS Scandinavian Airlines, a fellow APEX five-star airline, to the SkyTeam Global Alliance. Virgin Atlantic and SAS Scandinavian Airlines are developing new business relationships to provide the finest access to and from Scandinavia’s important cities. This alliance will provide new destinations, improved connectivity, and a more seamless, higher consumer experience for all travelers in the near future. Virgin Atlantic’s Flying Club members will have immediate earning and redemption opportunities once SAS officially joins SkyTeam on September 1, 2024*, and SAS EuroBonus members will be able to earn and redeem points on Virgin Atlantic.
Furthermore, a new codeshare with SkyTeam member Saudia has been introduced, allowing for connectivity between Saudi Arabia and Virgin Atlantic destinations. The first phase of the partnership, which is currently online, allows Virgin Atlantic clients flying from the United States to purchase seamless onward connections via London Heathrow and Manchester to Saudia’s services to Jeddah and Riyadh. Opportunities to earn Virgin Points and Tier Points, as well as redeem Virgin Points, have been available since March 2023, with online redemptions launching last month. Saudia’s AlFursan members can earn and redeem points on Virgin Atlantic flights.
Juha Jarvinen, Chief Commercial Officer at Virgin Atlantic, commented:
As we celebrate our 40th anniversary this month, we know that giving our customers more choice and award-winning service in the skies is what fuels our success, alongside working with the best partners. We’re delighted to launch codeshares with our SkyTeam partners at SAS and Saudia today, enhancing our connectivity and offering greater customer benefits to our frequent flyers, who will be able to achieve rewards faster.
Our return to Tel Aviv on 5 September will be welcome news for customers who have enjoyed our service since 2019, and this time round it’ll be strengthened by our new codeshare partnership with EL AL.
