Virgin Atlantic Introduces Its First Airbus A350-1000

On 10 September 2019, we introduced our first Airbus A350-1000 into commercial passenger service, operating flight VS153 from London Heathrow to New York JFK. Named Red Velvet and registered G-VLUX, the aircraft was the first of 12 A350-1000s ordered in 2016 as part of our long-haul fleet renewal programme. It had been delivered by Airbus in August, ahead of its September debut. The A350 introduced redesigned cabins across Upper Class, Premium and Economy. In Upper Class, passengers experienced a new suite with greater privacy, improved storage and an 18.5-inch entertainment screen. Premium featured new leather seats and updated finishes, while Economy offered redesigned seating with six-way adjustable headrests and larger entertainment screens. A central feature was The Loft, a new social space for Upper Class passengers. Replacing the traditional onboard bar concept with a more flexible lounge-style area, The Loft provided seating where customers could meet, enjoy refreshments or dine together. It also included a 32-inch screen with Bluetooth headphone connectivity. The aircraft brought additional onboard technology, including external camera views, updated inflight entertainment and Wi-Fi. Its introduction also supported our fleet renewal plans, with the A350-1000 offering approximately 30% lower fuel burn per seat than the Airbus A340 aircraft it was replacing, according to our 2019 Annual Report.