Delta-Virgin Atlantic partnership to expand options out of London Heathrow

Delta Air Lines stated (21-Mar-2013) it would significantly grow its presence at London Heathrow Airport when its partnership with Virgin Atlantic comes into force later this year. Heathrow is the world's top business destination: of the top 10 transatlantic corporate markets, eight of them are to London Heathrow. Delta and Virgin expect to jointly offer 21 daily services from London Heathrow to the US by the end of 2013. Delta president Ed Bastian said: "London Heathrow is the most important access point for corporate travellers and that was driving force behind our decision to invest in Virgin Atlantic. Given the constraints on growth at Heathrow, our partnership with Virgin will enable us to expand our presence at this airport and level the field a little with our competitors, while offering customers even more in terms of choice and benefits." Effective 31-Mar-2013, Delta will launch a third daily service between Heathrow and Atlanta for a total of nine daily nonstop flights to five US cities: New York-JFK, Atlanta, Detroit, Minneapolis-St Paul and Boston. Customers will benefit from almost 30,000 weekly seats offered on Delta flights between Heathrow and the US in summer 2013. [more - original PR]