Looking for cheap Virgin Atlantic Flights to or from Nigeria? Compare flight prices and book your Virgin Atlantic flights online now, or find out more about this airline below:
About the airline
Virgin Atlantic (www.virgin-atlantic.com) is a leading UK airline based in Crawley.Founded as British Atlantic Airways in 1984, Virgin Atlantic today operates a fleet of 40 aircraft flying to 21 destinations around the world. Along with Virgin Holidays, the airline is 51% owned by the Virgin Group, with Delta Airlines holding a 49% stake in the businesses. By as early as 2014, the airline was reporting annual revenues of GBP 2.93 billion, with an operating income of GBP 14.4 million. By the same year, the airline was employing over 9,200 full time employees across its international operations. The airline’s key air hubs are situated in Manchester and at London’s Heathrow and Gatwick international airports. Significantly, it was named the UK’s top private travel firm in 2016.
The airline operated in Nigeria, initially as Virgin Nigeria Airways and subsequently as Nigerian Eagle Airlines, the then national flag carrier of the country. The airline’s base was situated at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos, with headquarters based in Ikoyi, Lagos State. The airline, which effectively replaced the defunct Nigeria Airways, was launched in 2004 as a joint venture partnership between the Virgin Group and Nigerian investors. The airline withdrew from the business during the period 2008 to 2010, with Air Nigeria ceasing operations during 2012.
Air Nigeria used to enjoy codesharing agreements with Kenya Airways, and Delta Airlines, both SkyTeam airline alliance members.
Virgin Atlantic nonetheless continues operating frequent passenger flights to Port Harcourt and Lagos as a UK based airline. While the airline doesn’t operate first class flights from Nigeria, it is nonetheless renowned for its business class excellence, and is one of the most widely recognized airline brands in the world. For a concise history of key milestones for the airline, click here.
Key flight routes and destinations
Virgin Atlantic operates regular scheduled passenger flights from London Gatwick, Glasgow and Manchester utilizing their Airbus A330-300s along selected routes. The Boeing 747, Airbus A340 and Airbus A330 aircraft are used interchangeably on all flights departing from London-Heathrow Airport. In Africa, the airline flies to Lagos and Port Harcourt in Nigeria, Cape Town and Johannesburg in South Africa, as well as to Accra in Ghana.
The airline flies to various destinations in the United States, including Atlanta, Boston, Orlando (from London Gatwick), Detroit, Las Vegas, Los Angeles (LAX), Miami, New York (JFK and Newark), San Francisco and Washington DC. In addition, the airline frlies from London to Dubai in the UAE, Cancun in Mexico, as well as Antigua, Barbados, Grenada, Havana, Montego Bay in Jamaica as well as St Lucia and Tobago as part of their transatlantic flight network.
Other key international destinations include Athens in Greece, Hong Kong, Nairobi in Kenya, Port Louis in Mauritius, Sydney in Australia as well as Varadero in Cuba.
The Virgin fleet
Virgin Atlantic operates a fleet consisting of a mix of wide body Airbus and Boeing aircraft. As of July 2016, the fleet consists of 10 Airbus A330-300s, 9 Airbus A340-600s, as well as 8 Boeing 747-400s and 13 Boeing 787-9s, among other aircraft types. The airline is also expanding its fleet in the near future.
Codeshare agreements
As of July 2016, the airline has codeshare agreements in place with Delta Airlines, Air New Zealand, Flybe, Jet Airways, All Nippon Airways, Air China as well as Singapore Airlines, among others.
Virgin Atlantic cabin classes
The airline offers passengers three classes of travel, namely Economy Class, Premium Economy and Upper Class, the airline’s business class product. Upper Class passengers enjoy seats that convert into fully flat beds, as well as accesss to a personalized chauffeur service.
Live online flight tracker and online check-ins
To track the progress of any Virgin Atlantic flight online, click here. To check into your next Virgin flight online, click here.
Booking Virgin Atlantic flights online
Use the above flight booking form to compare, book your own Virgin flights and save within minutes – 24/7, 365! Or, for more information on the airline, visit www.virgin-atlantic.com – NOT www.virginatlantic.com or www.virgin-atlantic.com.ng.