SEATTLE – The Port of Seattle welcomes today’s announcement that Virgin Atlantic Airways will begin nonstop service from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to London-Heathrow using its most fuel-efficient Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft. Virgin Atlantic’s new service will replace the existing service offered by its joint venture partner Delta Air Lines beginning March 26, 2017.
“London is our largest international market and we are delighted to be giving passengers a new flight option with the prominent Virgin Atlantic brand aboard an airplane that was born right here in Washington,” said Port of Seattle Commission President John Creighton. “This is a big win for both business and leisure travelers to have a new option for their U.K. and European travel.”
Customers will be welcomed by the Virgin experience, which includes its Premium Economy product featuring a new Wander Wall for snacks and socializing, chauffer limo service, its iconic bar and fully flat-bed seats for Upper Class customers, and uniquely Virgin mood lighting. The introduction of the 787-9 Dreamliner on this route also means that there will be more seats for customers to enjoy Boeing’s latest innovations, including higher ceilings, larger windows, and improved cabin pressure so customers can feel less fatigued after a long flight. The World Travel Awards honored Virgin Atlantic as Europe’s leading airline to North America. The airline says the Pacific Northwest market is a prime one for their West Coast operations.
“We are looking forward to be broadening our presence on the West Coast of America by introducing the Virgin Atlantic experience to customers in Seattle,” said Erik Varwijk, Virgin Atlantic’s executive vice president of Commercial. “It is because of our joint venture with Delta that we have been able to optimize our routes and touch down in Seattle next summer using our newest, most fuel efficient Boeing 787-9 aircraft with additional capacity. In less than a year, customers flying between the Pacific Northwest of the U.S. and the U.K. can delight in all that Virgin Atlantic has to offer – from our Premium Economy cabin to our airport Clubhouses and uniquely British onboard service.”
Virgin Atlantic’s new daily service will operate with a 264-seat Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft on the following schedule:
| Flight | Departs | Arrives | Service Begins |
|---|---|---|---|
| VS106 | SEA at 7:10 p.m. | LHR at 2 p.m. (next day) | March 26, 2017 |
| VS105 | LHR at 11 a.m. | SEA at 1:20 p.m. | March 26, 2017 |
Virgin Atlantic joins Volaris and Xiamen as the third airline this year to announce international service to Sea-Tac. For the past two years, Sea-Tac has been the fastest growing large hub airport in the U.S. In 2015, passenger traffic set a record for the fifth straight year with over 42.3 million travelers. Through the first quarter of 2016, normally the slowest travel season, passenger numbers are up ten percent.
About Virgin Atlantic
Virgin Atlantic was founded by entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson 30 years ago , and has since pioneered a range of innovations setting new standards of service. For example, Virgin Atlantic was the first airline to introduce the Premium Economy product, include a bar in every aircraft for Upper Class customers, offer seatback TVs on every seat in every cabin, develop a fully flatbed seat and fly a commercial aircraft on biofuels. Despite Virgin Atlantic’s growth, the service still remains customer driven with an emphasis on value for money, quality, fun and innovation.
Virgin Atlantic is a separate airline from Virgin America, with separate shareholders and ownership groups. Virgin Group is the majority shareholder of Virgin Atlantic, holding 51 percent, with Delta Air Lines holding 49 percent. The joint venture between Delta and Virgin Atlantic gives customers more options and a seamless service between the U.S. and U.K. Together, the airlines work to continuously evaluate their joint transatlantic network to match the right aircraft to the right destinations.
