Virgin Atlantic to join SkyTeam alliance

SkyTeam and Virgin Atlantic announced Tuesday that the British airline will join the alliance as a new member in early 2023.

This will make Virgin Atlantic the first and only British airline to become a SkyTeam member, enhancing the alliance’s transatlantic network and services to and from Heathrow and Manchester airports.

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Virgin Atlantic customers will benefit from a seamless experience in more than 1,000 global destinations. They will also have more opportunities to earn and redeem points across all member airlines and access to a network of more than 750 airport lounges on six continents.

Virgin Atlantic’s entry into the alliance builds on the success of its transatlantic partnership with Delta Air Lines and Air France-KLM, which are already long-standing SkyTeam members. All four partners are located at Heathrow Terminal 3, alongside existing members Aeromexico and China Eastern, providing travelers with seamless air transits and the most convenient connection times possible.

“At Virgin Atlantic we strive to create thoughtful experiences that are different for our passengers and SkyTeam shares that customer-first ethos. Our membership will allow us to enhance our established relationships with our valued partners Delta and Air France-KLM, as well as open up opportunities to collaborate with new airlines,” said Shai Weiss, CEO of Virgin Atlantic.