Virgin Atlantic Expands Transatlantic Partnership with Air France-KLM and Delta

On 4 March 2019, we launched our first codeshare partnership with Air France and KLM, expanding the travel options available to customers flying between the UK, Europe and North America. The agreement was developed alongside our existing transatlantic joint venture with Delta Air Lines and formed part of preparations for a broader four-airline partnership. Through the new codeshare arrangements, our customers gained access to up to 58 additional transatlantic routes from 18 UK airports, connecting through Paris Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam Schiphol. These included journeys such as Edinburgh to Toronto via Amsterdam and London Heathrow to Chicago via Paris. In return, Air France and KLM customers could book 24 additional North American routes operated by Virgin Atlantic and Delta, connecting through London Heathrow or Manchester. The partnership made it easier to combine flights operated by the participating airlines under a single booking reference, with more opportunities to earn and redeem frequent flyer miles. It also extended our reach into regional UK markets and European connecting hubs without requiring us to operate additional short-haul flights. At the time of the launch, we were working with Delta and Air France-KLM towards an expanded transatlantic joint venture, subject to regulatory approval. The codeshare was an initial commercial step in that process; the full four-airline joint venture subsequently launched in February 2020.