Virgin Atlantic announced the launch of exciting new itineraries spanning three continents, utilising brand-new aircraft. Customers will benefit from more than 250,000 total additional seats* across Virgin Atlantic’s network in 2020 compared to 2019 as a result of the airline’s efforts to capitalise on sustained demand for international travel.

With a brand-new daily flight from London Heathrow to So Paulo, Brazil, the airline’s international route network will expand into South America for the very first time. So Paulo, one of the world’s most populous cities and home to multinational corporations, offers corporate customers and business travellers the opportunity to fly in Virgin Atlantic style. The city is renowned as the culinary capital of Brazil, a bustling metropolis with an abundance of arts and cultural experiences that will enthral adventure-seeking vacationers. The fact that Brazil is the leading importer and exporter in South America will also make So Paulo a popular cargo route. With a daily capacity of multiple tonnes, Virgin Atlantic anticipates transporting regular cargoes of auto parts, pharmaceuticals, food, and agricultural products, contributing to the £7.7 billion** in annual trade between the two countries.

So Paulo is an important gateway in Brazil for Virgin Atlantic’s codeshare partner and the largest airline in South America, LATAM. The partnership offers consumers connections to 12 Brazilian domestic airports, including Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, and Florianopolis, as well as earning and redemption opportunities for Flying Club members. In addition, passengers travelling from So Paulo to London Heathrow will be able to seamlessly connect to the rest of Virgin Atlantic’s global destinations via Terminal 3 – home to the airline’s award-winning Clubhouse – including Tel Aviv, Delhi, and Shanghai.

Bengaluru (Bangalore) will become the airline’s third destination and fourth daily service to India, signalling expansion in the country. Since 2019, Virgin Atlantic has quadrupled its capacity to India, the airline’s fastest-growing market outside the United States. With the launch of this new route in the summer of 2024, the airline will offer a total of 500,000 seats annually between the United Kingdom and India, while its codeshare with IndiGo, India’s leading airline, sails to 34 destinations in the country. Bengaluru is a rapidly expanding tech hub and one of the largest corporate markets in India, while adventurous tourists will appreciate the city’s rich culture and beautiful gardens. The new service will provide seamless connectivity and a premium long-haul experience for customers connecting via London Heathrow to North American destinations including Seattle, San Francisco, and New York JFK with Virgin Atlantic and transatlantic joint venture partner Delta Air Lines.

Last week, Virgin Atlantic announced its return to Dubai, which will operate seasonally from October to March, four times per week, for consumers seeking winter sun. The airline anticipates that the new route will be a success with leisure travellers, capturing the growing demand for high-end vacations in sunny destinations. In addition to carrying passengers, Virgin Atlantic will transport 20 tonnes of cargo per flight. This expedited cargo service will provide new opportunities for companies seeking to export and import fresh produce and high-tech commodities between the Middle East and major markets in the United Kingdom and the United States. The announcement follows the launch of new routes to the Maldives, Turks and Caicos, and inter-island flights in the Caribbean between Barbados, Grenada, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Manchester Airport, the airline’s northern hub, will receive additional flights with the reintroduction of three weekly summer services between Manchester and Las Vegas. As it continues to expand its network, Virgin Atlantic is committed to providing services to popular leisure destinations for its clients in Northern England and beyond.

Working with a variety of world-class collaborators, customer connectivity remains a central focus. In addition to its expanded joint venture partners Delta Air Lines, Air France, and KLM, the airline joined the SkyTeam alliance in March 2023, providing customers with a consistent, seamless experience across 1,000 global destinations in over 170 countries, with a codeshare agreement with Korean Air having been announced since launch.

From 13 May 2024, daily flights between London Heathrow and So Paulo’s Guarulhos International Airport will be operated by the airline’s premier Boeing 787-9. Flights will go on sale in August, with fares beginning at £655. Beginning on 31 March 2024, flights to Bengaluru will be operated by the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, which features 31 Upper Class, 35 Premium, and 192 Economy Delight, Classic, and Light seats, as well as the airline’s signature Upper Class social space.

*Total number of extra seats (round trip)

** According to the Department of Business and Trade, total trade in commodities and services (exports plus imports) between the United Kingdom and Brazil for the four quarters ending in Q4 2022 was £7.7 billion.