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Virgin remarries - Says Jamaican flyers will see benefits on New York, London routes
Published: Friday | July 12, 2013 0 Comments
Andre Bello of Virgin Atlantic Airline addresses a media reception held at Spanish Court Hotel, St Lucia Avenue, New Kingston, on Tuesday night July 2. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer
Delta and Virgin Atlantic will codeshare on 108 routes. - File
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Delta [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]AirLine's[/COLOR][/COLOR] acquisition of a minority stake in [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]Virgin [COLOR=blue !important]Atlantic[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR] was cleared by regulators on June 24.
That same day, the airlines announced a codeshare agreement covering 108 routes.
Virgin Atlantic will place its code on 91 Delta routes, including both transatlantic and domestic US routes. Delta will place its code on 17 Virgin Atlantic routes.
The Delta route between Jamaica and New York is included in the arrangement, and will especially benefit Jamaican [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]travellers[/COLOR][/COLOR] who regularly fly to both London and New York, said Andre Bello, Virgin Atlantic's regional head of sales, marketing and communications.
"Customers within the [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]frequent [COLOR=blue !important]flyer[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR] programmes of each airline will be able to earn and redeem points across the two carriers," he told the Financial Gleaner.
The company has also rolled out a global marketing campaign to distinguish the new offerings under the partnership with Delta.
"At Virgin Atlantic, we have challenged ourselves to break from that status quo, and to ensure that the experience of flying with us will always be that little bit better, more exciting, more magical. Our entire marketing campaign embodies this commitment in a simple statement, 'Flying in the face of ordinary' or for short, FITFOO," said Bello.
"This concept of FITFOO is being rolled out across the globe, and our Caribbean activities form a part of that messaging."
Regional promotions
It will be promoted regionally in Barbados, Jamaica, St Lucia, Antigua, Grenada and Trinidad, said the marketing manager.
Vigin will further reinforce the message "in the islands that feed into our direct services as well," Bello said.
Delta has acquired the 49 per cent stake in Virgin previously held by Singapore [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]Airlines[/COLOR][/COLOR]. The Virgin Group, owned by Sir Richard Branson, continues to hold the majority 51 per cent.
"No money exchanged hands between Delta and Virgin Atlantic as the shares were purchased from Singapore Airlines," said Bello.
Delta and Virgin Atlantic are also creating a transatlantic joint venture covering flights between the United States, Canada and Mexico and the United Kingdom.
"The partnership will provide additional revenue opportunities, enhanced customer benefits and opportunities for employees. The joint venture will operate on a 'metal neutral' basis, with both airlines sharing the costs and revenues from all flights regardless of which carrier operates the service," said Bello
"Implementation of the full joint venture will require approval from the US Department of Transportation and we expect to receive this later in the year," he told the Financial Gleaner.
Under the partnership the airlines are also offering priority check-in, boarding, baggage handling and additional baggage allowance across all Virgin Atlantic and Delta-operated flights worldwide — not just codeshare flights — for Upper Class and Flying Club Gold members, as well as BusinessElite and SkyMiles Gold, Diamond and Platinum members.
Virgin Atlantic will retain its name and brand.
"Our unique sense for operating an airline that customers around the world love, will not change. It's what attracted Delta to us. The partnership with Delta allows us to stretch our wings even further," Bello said.
business@gleanerjm.com
Published: Friday | July 12, 2013 0 Comments
Andre Bello of Virgin Atlantic Airline addresses a media reception held at Spanish Court Hotel, St Lucia Avenue, New Kingston, on Tuesday night July 2. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer
Delta and Virgin Atlantic will codeshare on 108 routes. - File
1 2 >
Delta [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]AirLine's[/COLOR][/COLOR] acquisition of a minority stake in [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]Virgin [COLOR=blue !important]Atlantic[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR] was cleared by regulators on June 24.
That same day, the airlines announced a codeshare agreement covering 108 routes.
Virgin Atlantic will place its code on 91 Delta routes, including both transatlantic and domestic US routes. Delta will place its code on 17 Virgin Atlantic routes.
The Delta route between Jamaica and New York is included in the arrangement, and will especially benefit Jamaican [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]travellers[/COLOR][/COLOR] who regularly fly to both London and New York, said Andre Bello, Virgin Atlantic's regional head of sales, marketing and communications.
"Customers within the [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]frequent [COLOR=blue !important]flyer[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR] programmes of each airline will be able to earn and redeem points across the two carriers," he told the Financial Gleaner.
The company has also rolled out a global marketing campaign to distinguish the new offerings under the partnership with Delta.
"At Virgin Atlantic, we have challenged ourselves to break from that status quo, and to ensure that the experience of flying with us will always be that little bit better, more exciting, more magical. Our entire marketing campaign embodies this commitment in a simple statement, 'Flying in the face of ordinary' or for short, FITFOO," said Bello.
"This concept of FITFOO is being rolled out across the globe, and our Caribbean activities form a part of that messaging."
Regional promotions
It will be promoted regionally in Barbados, Jamaica, St Lucia, Antigua, Grenada and Trinidad, said the marketing manager.
Vigin will further reinforce the message "in the islands that feed into our direct services as well," Bello said.
Delta has acquired the 49 per cent stake in Virgin previously held by Singapore [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]Airlines[/COLOR][/COLOR]. The Virgin Group, owned by Sir Richard Branson, continues to hold the majority 51 per cent.
"No money exchanged hands between Delta and Virgin Atlantic as the shares were purchased from Singapore Airlines," said Bello.
Delta and Virgin Atlantic are also creating a transatlantic joint venture covering flights between the United States, Canada and Mexico and the United Kingdom.
"The partnership will provide additional revenue opportunities, enhanced customer benefits and opportunities for employees. The joint venture will operate on a 'metal neutral' basis, with both airlines sharing the costs and revenues from all flights regardless of which carrier operates the service," said Bello
"Implementation of the full joint venture will require approval from the US Department of Transportation and we expect to receive this later in the year," he told the Financial Gleaner.
Under the partnership the airlines are also offering priority check-in, boarding, baggage handling and additional baggage allowance across all Virgin Atlantic and Delta-operated flights worldwide — not just codeshare flights — for Upper Class and Flying Club Gold members, as well as BusinessElite and SkyMiles Gold, Diamond and Platinum members.
Virgin Atlantic will retain its name and brand.
"Our unique sense for operating an airline that customers around the world love, will not change. It's what attracted Delta to us. The partnership with Delta allows us to stretch our wings even further," Bello said.
business@gleanerjm.com