Delta and Virgin unveil joint schedule

Virgin Atlantic and Delta Air Lines have today revealed how they will align their services at London Heathrow ahead of their transatlantic joint venture, which begins in summer 2014.

The two carriers have unveiled details of their new combined schedule, which will start on March 30 and aims to "offer maximum customer convenience, particularly for business travellers".

The airlines were granted anti-trust immunity by the US Department of Transportation in September (see news, September 23).

Among the changes, Delta will move flights on its key business routes – New York JFK, Boston and Seattle – to Heathrow's Terminal 3, from April 2, to co-locate with Virgin. All Delta flights from Heathrow are currently based at Terminal 4.

And, as part of the move, all business class passengers with both carriers will be given access to Virgin's Clubhouse lounge in Terminal 3.

Craig Kreeger, Virgin Atlantic's CEO, said: "We already co-locate together at New York's JFK airport and moving some of Delta's key business flights to join Virgin Atlantic at Heathrow's Terminal 3 will enhance convenience, and reduce connection times.

"This demonstrates how our new partnership is going to be making a real difference for customers."

Delta will operate a second daily service between Heathrow and Detroit from June 2 alongside its already announced Heathrow-Seattle route, which is due to launch on March 30.

Delta president Ed Bastian added: "A key reason for our joint venture was to offer customers more choice and convenient schedules, especially for our business travellers.

"With our Seattle service, Delta will add its sixth nonstop destination between London and the United States. Combined the Delta-Virgin partnership now offers our customers 33 daily nonstop flights across the Atlantic."

The new Virgin-Delta schedule from Heathrow will include nine daily flights to New York area airports (JFK and Newark). The timetable has been drawn up to attract the corporate market on both sides of the Atlantic.

The airlines said in a statement: "The new schedule will include departures every 30 minutes during the early evening peak and then hourly until 22.30 from New York-JFK to Heathrow and a spread of seven daily flights from Heathrow to New York-JFK, including two late afternoon and early evening departures.

"It also includes two conveniently timed departures to and from Newark."

The new schedule is as follows:

virgin-atlantic.com, delta.com

Graham Smith