With tattoos and an all-inclusive dress code for crew and a modern fleet, the 38-year-old airline is checking all the boxes for the next generation
With tattoos and an all-inclusive dress code for crew and a modern fleet, the 38-year-old airline is checking all the boxes for the next generation
In July, the peak heat in Europe, Heathrow Airport introduced a 100,000 cap on daily departing passengers. The move until 11 September was meant to limit endless queues, baggage delays and cancellations as Britain’s major airport struggles to cope with rising travel demands following the pandemic. Surprised and forced to cancel flights, the airline’s owners were not happy.
Passengers at Heathrow Airport
flight range
A few weeks ago, Heathrow Airport raised its daily limit on passengers until the end of October, in order to control the cancellations, delays and loss of baggage that caused chaos at major airports in Europe this summer. situation has been created. Like other airlines, Virgin Atlantic shared its disappointment with the decision, noting that the “extra resources” [have] come on line every week and as [Heathrow] The airport experience improves”. A spokesperson said, “We urge Heathrow to provide a comprehensive plan to return to normal operation as soon as possible.”
one in financial Times According to the report, Emirates President Tim Clarke has called Heathrow’s demand to cancel one of its six daily A380 Superjumbo flights to Dubai as “criminal”. At the Farnborough International Airshow that month, a 30-minute train ride from London, Qatar Airways CEO, Akbar Al Baker, told bloomberg That three months’ advance notice would have helped, as travelers usually book in March for July.
Virgin Atlantic’s Chief Customer and Operations Officer Cornell Koster poses with an Airbus A350 aircraft at Heathrow Airport. , photo credit: Virgin Atlantic
The day London Heathrow capacity limits were imposed, I spoke with Cornell Koster, Chief Customer and Operations Officer of Virgin Atlantic (VS), as he presided over a gathering in modern Shoreditch. He was launching the airline’s new Airbus A330-900neo offering, which was highly anticipated among aviation enthusiasts and was part of efforts to build one of the youngest fleets in the skies. “The impact on our operation is not yet known as they would” [Heathrow] presented a plan that lacks detail or depth,” he said, reacting to the ‘breaking news’ of the day. “We want the travel experience to be better and the airport to function better. Travel isn’t always about pure luxury. Some people travel for pleasure but some travel for work. We want to keep our customers moving forward and in the best possible way.”
A330neo . inside
A major step in that direction is the addition of 16 Airbus A330-900neos to Virgin Atlantic’s fleet of 36 aircraft, the first of which is expected to fly to Boston in early October. Tickets recently went on sale (around £1800 for high class, round trip) and were seen a few days ago as the plane was fully produced at the Airbus factory in Toulouse-Blagnac airport, France. Airlines already flying the A330neo include Delta Air Lines and French carrier, Corsair. But VS, known for its social spaces and mood lighting, has pushed the envelope with the A330 Neo.
A330-900neo . classy cabin
in-flight tips
Top flight attendant, Steve Holland, says you should bring a top-performing moisturizing cream and lip balm on the flight. Try getting some sleep to keep your skin from looking tired. Avoid heavy makeup and let your skin breathe. Dehydration accelerates at altitude, so hydrate often.
First, it will debut a pair of private suites facing upscale cabins. (At VS, Upper Class is a combination of First and Business Class.) Retreat Suites have seats that can convert into six-foot, seven-inch flatbeds with fully enclosed aisle privacy doors and 27-inch touchscreens. With a padded ottoman that converts into additional seating, it becomes a private space for drinks or mid-air meeting with a fellow traveler. Or lower the barrier between two retreat suites to accommodate a celebratory meal for up to four people.
The Retreat Suite can accommodate up to four people
carbon capture
Airbus has signed letters of intent with several airlines — including Virgin Atlantic — to invest directly in a carbon-capture program with the company, 1PointFive, which plans to build a carbon capture facility in Texas.
The upper class also houses the airline’s famous Loft Lounge, which comes with love seats and a self-service refrigerator. All seats have Bluetooth capability but wireless charging is new (and most welcome) in the premium and high-end range. Powered by a Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engine, the new aircraft are designed to reduce fuel burn and carbon emissions by up to 11% when compared to the A330-300 they will replace, as well as a 50% reduction in airport noise risk. % will decrease.
inclusive in the workplace
VS cabin crew
Of course, there’s more to a great airline than seat architecture, as evidenced by a chat with co-passengers on my 787-9 Dreamliner flight to London: a Virgin fan of the early years of Heathrow and Virgin Group. Reminiscent of the Range Rover limo ride for founder Richard Branson’s lavish parties often invited fliers. Our pilots were a happy trio, one of them 25 years old at VS, and the other, Jaspal Singh (@pilot_jas on Instagram), a Khalsa aid volunteer who flew 200 donated oxygen concentrators to India during the pandemic. Purser Steve Holland, who joined VS a quarter-century ago at age 19 and looks no more than 30 days old (see box for his suggestions), gave me an insight into a flight attendant’s gender, age, weight, race, and sexuality. Reminded about the progressive stance of the airline. , “At that time, the age limit was 19-31, now we have over 65 flying personnel,” he said.
The runway is visible from the rooftop garden of Virgin Atlantic’s Heathrow Clubhouse
In May, VS eased restrictions on tattoos among its cabin crew; From 2019, makeup is not mandatory for female cabin crew during flights. Koster confirmed that employees can now show off their tattoo sleeves at work “and they can wear makeup or no makeup at all, whether they are women or men”. When I asked him whether the dress code of the workplace was in line with our cultural and social changes regarding gender identity, say, a male at birth flight attendant would be allowed to wear a skirt, he was pleasant to the idea. was receptive. “I haven’t been asked this yet, but I think ‘yes’. The important thing is that they wear it in style and within the same guidelines. We welcome everyone and our people and our customers.” We value that individualism for both. But we also respect the local culture of our customers. If there is any cultural sensitivity on certain routes, I’m sure our crew will be aware of it and respect that culture will do.”
A330neo at the paint shop in France
In India, Virgin Atlantic has entered into a new codeshare agreement with IndiGo, which lets them serve 16 additional destinations in India, including Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad. This will come as a relief to Indian travelers who favor a fun and fast airline. Specifically they are planning transit to Boston on the new A330neo via Heathrow.
A Seasoned Flight Attendant’s Tips for Avoiding the Chaos of the Airport
For 25 Years at VS, Steve Holland Has Some Tips for Avoiding the Wrong Bag This Season
1. The more luggage you carry, the more likely the airline is to lose it, so try to limit the amount of luggage you bring with you.
2. Put a tracking device on your bag so you don’t have to wait for an agent to tell you where it is.
3. If you are checking your luggage yourself, make sure the tag is attached correctly to the handle of the bag or ask for help.
4. Always put your name and phone number on the bag tag for identification.
‘Stability comes first’
Cornell Koster, Chief Customer and Operating Officer of Virgin Atlantic, shared his airline’s priority list and plans for India.
The new A330neo has better fuel and passenger capacity, but less cargo capacity. What are the priorities for building one of the youngest and cleanest fleets in the sky?
Sustainability probably comes first: the new A330neo has 11% less fuel burn and 50% less noise. Then comes the economics: total cost of ownership, best aircraft to operate, best route. Our fleet has undergone tremendous simplification over the years. We used to operate an Airbus 340-600 and a Boeing 747, the ‘Beautiful Queen of the Skies’. We have made it more durable and efficient over the years. But with the diversity of our networks, no one size fits all. Take the A330neo for example, although it might work for Los Angeles given the size of the cabin and the demand for cargo, the Airbus A350 is a better plane for that route.
What routes will the A330neo see other than London to Boston?
We chose Boston because it is equidistant from New York. You will definitely see it in Tampa. We have ordered 16 of them so I guess it should come to India but the question is when.
plans for south india
If we have a third runway and more slots at Heathrow, we can consider Bangalore. The fleet is growing rapidly and we will be back to 46 aircraft by 2025. India’s south is always on our watch list but there are no immediate plans.
The author was in London at the invitation of Virgin Atlantic.