Virgin Atlantic will increase its cargo-only flights by 35 per cent to nearly 600 in June with the launch of new routes including Beijing and Brussels following the success of its May programme.
June will see a total of 601 flights – 597 cargo-only services and 4 repatriation flights for the UK’s Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO). As the airline continues to extend its network to support demand for export and import cargoes as UK and international businesses continue their recovery from the COVID-19 outbreak, this month’s schedule highlights for customers include the launch of daily flights connecting London Heathrow and Beijing.
This will also be Virgin Atlantic’s first-ever flights to Brussels, arriving from New York JFK before connecting directly to London twice-a-week.
Other highlights include three flights a week to Chicago, starting on 4 June, increased Mumbai services to three a week, with UK departures every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday from June 6, three-times weekly London-Atlanta flights from June 9, a return to Nigeria with weekly Lagos flights to and from London and an increase to daily flights to and from Hong Kong.
The airline’s growing schedule means cargo customers now have access to direct cargo capacity connecting London, New York JFK, Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, Atlanta, Johannesburg, Tel Aviv, Lagos, Mumbai, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Beijing and Brussels. Kales Airline Services, Virgin general sales agency in Brussels will market its increased direct capacity in Belgium.
Shai Weiss, CEO of Virgin Atlantic, said, “I want to personally thank all of our cargo customers who have supported our cargo-only flying. We’re proud to be increasing the number of frequencies and routes we can offer in June as international trade steps us its recovery and lockdowns are eased around the world. While the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to restrict passenger flying, our cargo operation has never been more important both to our business and in keeping vital global supply chains running.”
In May, Virgin Atlantic operated 446 cargo-only flights, including 66 charters for customers, averaging 52 weekly departures from the UK. The airline carried 4.4 million kilos of cargo into the UK and 5.3 million kilos of exports, producing the highest monthly cargo revenues in the airline’s 36-year history.
The airline also looks forward to continuing to partner with the Department for Health and the NHS, working with them on 17 cargo charters per week from Shanghai and Beijing throughout June and July, bringing in the supplies that the teams here in the UK urgently need to care for patients. To date the airline has carried over 44 million items of PPE from China to the UK, including over 33 million isolation and medical masks, as well as millions of disposable aprons and gloves, and protective coveralls. Other PPE shipments to date include eye protection covers, ventilators, isolation gowns, injection and infusion pumps, and disposable samplers and swabs.
Dominic Kennedy, Managing Director of Virgin Atlantic Cargo, added, “May was an historic month for our cargo business, which is a quite remarkable achievement given the current trading environment. As well as demonstrating our customers’ confidence in Virgin Atlantic, this is a tribute to everyone in the airline who remains so committed to maintaining our customer offering despite the uncertainties which persist in the market. June will see this offering grow again and we are hoping for similar customer support now we have proven the resilience of our cargo-only flying programme.”
UVision USA and Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC) signed a collaboration agreement to manufacture the Hero 120 Loitering Munition system…
Survitec, a provider of critical safety and survival solutions, has secured a significant contract to equip five Type 31 Frigates…
Spire Global, Inc., a provider of space-based data, analytics, and space services, has announced a deal with South Korea’s HANCOM…
Emirates has commenced its Neste fuel agreement at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport this month, with over 2 million gallons of Sustainable…
AirAsia Malaysia announced the resumption of its Kuala Lumpur-Vientiane route commencing on 2nd July 2024 on Tuesday (Mar. 26). This…
A new A321-200PF freighter joined the Royal Jordanian (RJ) fleet on March 24, bolstering its capacity to meet the cargo…
Jordan Airmotive and National Airlines have expanded their partnership with a CF6-80C2B5F engine sale. Jordan Airmotive is an engine MRO…
The Indonesian Navy (TNI-AL) commenced the steel-cutting ceremony for its inaugural Kapal Cepat Rudal (KCR / Fast Missile Boat) of…
Supernal, Hyundai Motor Group’s Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) company, has appointed David McBride as Chief Technology Officer (CTO). McBride will…
Northrop Grumman and Diehl Defence have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) formalizing their commitment to work together to support…
Collins Aerospace unveiled its Venue smart monitor at the recent Aircraft Electronics Association Convention & Trade Show's new product introduction…
Raytheon has been awarded a US$1.2 billion contract to supply Germany with Patriot air and missile defense systems. The systems…
Airbus Defence and Space has revealed its plans to acquire INFODAS, a Cologne-based company specialising in cybersecurity and IT solutions…
Boeing has announced that its current President & CEO Dave Calhoun will step down at the end of 2024; Calhoun…
VITEC, a multinational Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) technology company, is set to bring its streaming technologies at…
The German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) announced a contract awarded to Rheinmetall for the "Schwerer Waffenträger Infanterie (Heavy Weapon Carrier for…
Korean Air is set to finalize a contract with Airbus for the acquisition of 33 A350 family aircraft. The agreement…
The Indonesian Army's 13th Cavalry Battalion has officially welcomed nine Harimau tanks into its arsenal. The induction ceremony took place…
Naval Group commenced the steel-cutting ceremony for the first third-generation French SSBN (SNLE 3G) at the group’s shipyard in Cherbourg…
Vietnam's leading budget airline, Vietjet, continues its expansion into the Australian market with the introduction of a new direct flight…
MRO company AAR has signed a multi-year agreement to supply surplus material for the CFM56-5B engine to Cebu Pacific. Under…
Embraer hosted the C-390 Millennium and A-29 Super Tucano of the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) at Embraer Executive Jets' headquarters…
Terma's SCANTER 4002 radars have been selected by Belgian Defence to enhance the nation's airspace surveillance capabilities at both military…
MBDA, manufacturer of missiles and missile systems, has joined Egypt International Airshow (EIAS) as Platinum Sponsor that will take place…
Eve Air Mobility's Urban Air Traffic Management (Urban ATM) software has been named Vector. According to the company, Vector will…
GKN Aerospace has signed a decade-long agreement to expand its support for the LEAP engines, strengthening its long-term partnership with…
Italian company Piaggio Aerospace has achieved certification as a Maintenance Training Organisation by the Italian Ministry of Defence, permitting the…
Airbus has secured a contract from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California, to design and manufacture the GRACE-C…
Lufthansa Technik will provide Total Component Support (TCS) for the current and future Airbus A321neo and A330neo fleets of Sunclass…
AirAsia Cambodia has announced its readiness to commence operations with flights to three domestic destinations: Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and…
Headquartered in Singapore with reporters spread across all major regions, GBP Aerospace & Defence is a leading media house that publishes three publications that serve the aerospace and defence sector - Asian Defence Technology, Asian Airlines & Aerospace and Daily News. Known industry-wide for quality journalism, GBP Aerospace & Defence is present at more international tradeshows and exhibitions than any other competing publication in the region.
For over three decades, our award-winning team of reporters has been producing top-notch content to help readers stay abreast of the latest developements in the field of commercial aviation, MRO, defence, and Space.
Copyright 2024. GBP. All Rights Reserved.
Home Defence & Security Space Commercial Aviation Maintence Repair & Overhaul Daily News Events About Us
2024 GBP all rights reserved.