A DELHI SPECIAL OCCASION! VIRGIN ATLANTIC BEGINS SERVICES TO DELHI

Today Virgin Atlantic Airways launched it first ever direct services between London and Delhi. Virgin Atlantic will initially operate a twice weekly service from London Heathrow to Delhi using a Boeing 747.

Sir Richard Branson, Chairman of Virgin Atlantic Airways, today celebrated the launch of the new route:

“I’m delighted that Virgin Atlantic is now able to offer flights between London and Delhi in a codeshare partnership with Air India and I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the Indian Government and Air India for all their help in turning this dream into reality.

“Delhi is a fantastic city of culture, history and excitement and becomes Virgin Atlantic’s twentieth destination world-wide. Virgin Atlantic’s expansion has been substantial over the past eighteen months with the launch of the first direct scheduled services to Shanghai and Las Vegas, the launch of new routes to Chicago and Cape Town and now Virgin’s first service to India.

“Passengers travelling between Delhi and London will benefit not only from the increased competition Virgin will provide on this route but also from the increased frequencies as there has long been a clear demand for extra services. The increased level of frequencies will allow India to capitalise on its massive economic and tourist potential.

“I’m confident that both Virgin Atlantic and Air India will prosper from this partnership and look forward to a successful working relationship.”

In order to best provide for Indian passengers travelling on Virgin Atlantic’s Delhi flights a number of Indian cabin crew have been recruited. The Indian crew were all recruited in Delhi and recently completed an intensive training schedule with Virgin Atlantic in the UK.

Virgin Atlantic is also catering for the Indian palate and the British love of Indian cuisine with an extensive menu including a wide selection of Indian meals. Chefs specialising in the art of Indian cuisine are being used to ensure the menus offered are an authentic Indian eating experience.

Delhi is one of the biggest routes from London Heathrow previously not served by Virgin Atlantic and registered almost half a million passengers last year, including many passengers who travel between London and India via third countries.

Virgin Atlantic will operate services between London and Delhi through a codeshare agreement with Air India. The agreement allows Virgin to operate its own aircraft on two of Air India’s currently unused frequencies between the UK and India. The agreement with Air India also includes a provision for future frequencies to be added. Virgin is proposing to operate a third weekly flight from October.

Under the terms of the agreement Virgin’s London-Delhi flights will carry both Virgin Atlantic and Air India flight numbers and both airlines will sell seats on these services in competition with one another. The codeshare agreement does not apply to current services operated by Air India.

Richard Branson also promised to look at other investment opportunities in India:

“Whenever we add new destinations to the Virgin Atlantic network we like to look for new opportunities for other Virgin companies. Virgin Atlantic has proved a great platform for further Virgin investment in the past and I’m sure this will also hold true for India”

Virgin Atlantic will operate services from London Heathrow to Delhi from 5 July. The flights will depart London Heathrow on Wednesdays and Fridays at 22.30 arriving in Delhi at 11.35 the next day. The return flights depart Delhi on Thursdays and Saturdays at 14.05, arriving at Heathrow at 18.25. These are days on which Air India does not currently operate services. Flight numbers are VS300 (AI6300) from London Heathrow and VS301 (AI6301) from Delhi.

The flight time is approximately eight and a half hours. Virgin Atlantic will operate a Boeing 747 aircraft which will be configured with 48 Upper Class seats, 32 Premium Economy and 286 in Economy.