Virgin Atlantic outlines ambitious expansion plans at Heathrow to 'challenge' British Airways

Virgin Atlantic outlined (18-Sep-2019) plans to "challenge the dominance of IAG" and British Airways at London Heathrow Airport. Key details include:

• Plans to significantly increase its long haul route network and launch a new comprehensive network of domestic and European routes following completion of Heathrow's third runway;
• Plans to serve 103 domestic, European and long haul destinations, up from 19 long haul destinations in 2020;
• Of the 84 new destinations planned, 12 are domestic (including Belfast, Glasgow and Manchester), 37 are European (including Barcelona, Dublin and Madrid), and 35 are global (including Buenos Aires, Tokyo and Santiago);
• Virgin Atlantic's proposed flying programme aims to increase in choice for customers;
• To achieve its expansion plans, the carrier is also calling on the UK Government to reform the way new Heathrow slots are allocated.

Virgin Atlantic CEO Shai Weiss commented: "Never has the need for effective competition and choice at Heathrow Airport been more evident than during this [2019] summer of disruption, which has brought misery for tens of thousands of travellers... Britain, and those who travel to it, deserve better than this. Air passengers need a choice and Virgin Atlantic is ready to deliver when Heathrow expands". [more - original PR] [more - original PR - II]