Virgin Atlantic announces new codeshare partnerships with El Al plus SkyTeam partners SAS Scandinavian Airlines and Saudia

• New codeshare with EL AL offers choice and connectivity on routes between the UK and Israel, and beyond to the US
• The airline will also partner with fellow SkyTeam members, SAS Scandinavian Airlines and Saudia, on new codeshares, boosting frequent flyer benefits
• Virgin Atlantic is set to return to Tel Aviv, bringing its award-winning customer service back to the route from 5 September 2024

Virgin Atlantic has announced three brand new codeshare partnerships which will launch this year, increasing connectivity and enhancing customer benefits, with the airline once again rewarding its most frequent flyers. It also announced its plan to return to Tel Aviv from 5 September 2024.

Virgin Atlantic partners with EL AL and sets date to return to Tel Aviv

Virgin Atlantic customers flying between the UK and Israel have been enjoying its experience since launch in September 2019. Today, the airline has confirmed that from 5 September 2024, it will resume flying between London Heathrow and Tel Aviv, for the first time since 11 October 2023. Flights will operate daily on board the airline’s Airbus A330 aircraft, offering connections through Heathrow to 14 US destinations, on 33 daily flights, operated by Virgin Atlantic and partner Delta Air Lines.

Meanwhile, a new codeshare partnership with EL AL will offer more connections between the UK, US and Israel. The two airlines will place codes on their respective London Heathrow and Tel Aviv services, allowing customers greater flexibility, frequencies with up to four daily flights, and choice when selecting travel between the UK and Israel. The partnership will offer reciprocal earn and redemption opportunities, as well as premium customer recognition and tier benefits for frequent flyers, including Flying Club and EL AL’s Matmid program. Virgin Atlantic customers will be able to travel on EL AL’s services from Tel Aviv to Heathrow and connect onwards to the US, to reach 11 US destinations on 23 daily flights.

Team SkyTeam

Virgin Atlantic joined SkyTeam in March 2023 as the alliance’s first and only UK member airline and is delighted to welcome SkyTeam’s newest member, SAS Scandinavian Airlines, a fellow APEX five-star airline, into the SkyTeam Global Alliance. Virgin Atlantic and SAS Scandinavian Airlines are working towards new commercial partnerships with the best access to and from Scandinavian key hubs. This collaboration will offer new destinations, enhanced connectivity, and a more seamless, elevated customer journey for all travellers in the very near future. Virgin Atlantic’s Flying Club members will receive instant earning and redeeming opportunities once SAS formally joins SkyTeam on 1 September 2024* and SAS EuroBonus members will be able to earn and redeem their points on Virgin Atlantic.

Further, a new codeshare with SkyTeam member Saudia has launched, in a move that will provide connectivity between Saudi Arabia and Virgin Atlantic destinations.  The first phase of the agreement, which is now live, means Virgin Atlantic customers travelling on flights from the US can purchase seamless onward connections through London Heathrow and Manchester, onto Saudia’s services to Jeddah and Riyadh. Opportunities to earn Virgin Points and Tier Points, alongside Virgin Points redemptions, have been in place since March 2023, with online redemptions launched last month. Saudia’s AlFursan members can earn and redeem their points on Virgin Atlantic flights.

Juha Jarvinen, Chief Commercial Officer, Virgin Atlantic, commented:

“As we celebrate our 40^th anniversary this month, we know that giving our customers more choice and award-winning service in the skies is what fuels our success, alongside working with the best partners. We’re delighted to launch codeshares with our SkyTeam partners at SAS and Saudia today, enhancing our connectivity and offering greater customer benefits to our frequent flyers, who will be able to achieve rewards faster.

“Our return to Tel Aviv on 5 September will be welcome news for customers who have enjoyed our service since 2019, and this time round it’ll be strengthened by our new codeshare partnership with EL AL.”

*Subject to government approval.