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  4. easyJet and Virgin Atlantic launch Worldwide partnership

easyJet and Virgin Atlantic have announced that through ‘Worldwide by easyJet’ customers flying with easyJet can connect to Virgin Atlantic flights at Manchester, Edinburgh and Belfast. The partnership will open up more connectivity to global destinations and provide customers across the US and Europe with even more choice to book a trip to look forward to. 

Through the partnership, customers will now be able to connect seamlessly between easyJet and Virgin Atlantic flights across both airline’s extensive networks in Europe and North America. Connecting destinations include, Jersey to New York and Belfast to Barbados, with some connections available on a daily basis from next summer, such as Belfast to Orlando, all via either Manchester, Edinburgh or Belfast.

Through technology partner Dohop's innovative platform, customers can book Worldwide by easyJet connections and forward flights on easyJet.com/worldwide. 

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

"We're delighted to be welcoming easyJet customers onboard Virgin Atlantic flights from Manchester, Edinburgh and Belfast. We know there is huge pent-up demand for people wanting to get away on holiday whether to the Caribbean for a relaxing sunny break or Stateside to explore their favourite cities. Thanks to this new partnership with Worldwide by easyJet, customers from across the UK and Europe can now seamlessly connect onto Virgin Atlantic destinations including New York, Barbados, and Orlando." 

Sophie Dekkers, Chief Commercial Officer, at easyJet, commented:

“At easyJet we’re committed to making travel as easy as possible as well as providing great value and more choice for our customers when they travel. We are delighted to be working with Virgin Atlantic to open up even more opportunity for customers to connect across our European network onto North America, through our innovative Worldwide by easyJet  platform.

“We look forward to taking customers on their long-awaited holidays and are confident that these additions to our Worldwide service will prove popular with those looking for a seamless way to connect between Europe and North America.

"We have been delighted with the appetite of partner airlines to expand Worldwide across our network, thanks to our reputation for great value fares, unrivalled customer service and our strong positions at Europe's leading airports. We remain focussed on offering our unique connections service at more of our biggest airports." 

Karen Smart, Managing Director at Manchester Airport, said:

“It’s great to see easyJet and Virgin Atlantic announce their Worldwide partnership here at Manchester Airport.

“Once launched it will open up even more choice and flexibility for passengers looking to access our long-haul route network. With a host of airport safety measures in place since the start of the pandemic, the security of all our passengers and staff continues to be our number one priority, as we connect people across the globe.”

Graham Keddie, managing director at Belfast International Airport said:

“Providing passengers with flexibility and choice is a key part of the VINCI Airports strategy. Belfast International Airport positively welcomes this new partnership between easyJet and Virgin Atlantic as it will connect more people to more destinations.

Gordon Dewar, Chief Executive of Edinburgh Airport said:
“Making safe travel easier is something we are hugely supportive of and this new Worldwide partnership will allow passengers to easily access a range of long-haul destinations, opening doors to countries across the world.

“Aviation will play an important role in the economic recovery of Scotland and the UK and working with easyJet and Virgin Atlantic, we want to excite people about the possibilities and benefits that sustainable travel brings.”

Manchester connections include:

Belfast to Barbados (based on departing on 18th December returning on 3rd January)

easyJet departs Belfast 08:10 arrive Manchester 09:15

Virgin Atlantic departs Manchester 11:45 arrive Barbados 16:55

Virgin Atlantic departs Barbados 19:45 arrive Manchester 08:15+1

easyJet departs Manchester 12:10 arrive Belfast 13:10

Belfast to Orlando (based on departing on 29th July and returning on 11th August)

easyJet departs Belfast 08:15 arrives Manchester 09:15

Virgin Atlantic departs Manchester 11:20 arrives Orlando 16:15

Virgin Atlantic departs Orlando 16:10 arrives Manchester 05:20+1

easyJet departs Manchester 08:40 arrives Belfast 09:40

Geneva to New York Return (based on departing on 19th December and returning on 27th December)

easyJet departs Geneva 09:50 arrives Manchester 10:45

Virgin Atlantic departs Manchester 13:55 arrives New York JFK 17:00

Virgin Atlantic departs New York JFK 20:00 arrives Manchester 07:45+1

easyJet departs Manchester 10:55 arrives Prague 13:45

Jersey to New York Return (based on departing on 7th July and returning on 17th July)

easyJet departs Jersey 09:20 arrives Manchester 10:40

Virgin Atlantic departs Manchester 13:05 arrives New York JFK 16:10

Virgin Atlantic departs New York JFK 18:40 arrives Manchester 06:25+1

easyJet departs Manchester 11:15 arrives Jersey 12:35

Malaga to Orlando return (based on departing on 5th August and returning on 21st August)

easyJet departs Malaga 06:40 arrives Manchester 08:45

Virgin Atlantic departs Manchester 11:20 arrives Orlando 16:15

Virgin Atlantic departs Orlando 18:15 arrives Manchester 07:25+1

easyJet departs Manchester 09:25 arrives Malaga 13:30

Edinburgh/Belfast connections

Birmingham to Orlando (based on departing on 25th June and returning on 10th July)

easyJet departs Birmingham at 07:50 arrives Manchester 09:05

Virgin Atlantic departs Edinburgh 11:20 for Orlando 16:15

Virgin Atlantic departs Orlando 18:45 arrives Manchester 07:30+1

easyJet departs Belfast at 09:30 arrives Birmingham 10:35

Worldwide by easyJet is the first global airline connections service by a European low fares airline. Worldwide by easyJet offers self-connections through a digital, virtual hub - simply and efficiently.

Worldwide launched in September 2017, enabling customers to connect easyJet flights through London Gatwick to long haul flights, and has been consistently growing, with more than 5,000 unique origins and destinations booked in combination with partner airlines.

Since then the airline has expanded the service to offer connections through many of Europe’s major airports across its short haul network including, Venice Marco Polo, Amsterdam Schiphol, Paris Charles De Gaulle, Orly, and Edinburgh. meaning that by 2020, combined with the connections already announced through London Gatwick and Milan Malpensa, over half of the airline's flights were able to connect to airline partner services and other easyJet flights in a single booking through easyJet's digital booking portal. 

In July, easyJet partnered with German train company, Deutsche Bahn meaning customers can now seamlessly connect to Deutsche Bahn trains, initially via Berlin, by combining flight and rail tickets all in one booking.  The partnership with Deutsche Bahn is the first time that a railway partner has become part of the Worldwide by easyJet platform.

Worldwide by easyJet does not impact easyJet's punctuality, asset utilisation, or operating model. The airline does not hold flights for connecting passengers. Worldwide by easyJet is subject to an average 2 hour and 30 minute 'connection time,' affording customers ample time to transfer between flights and terminals. Should a passenger miss a connecting flight, Worldwide by easyJet will transfer them to the next available flight. 

Notes to editors:

About Virgin Atlantic 

Virgin Atlantic was founded by entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson in 1984, with innovation and amazing customer service at its core. In 2021, Virgin Atlantic was voted Britain’s only Global Five Star Airline by APEX for the fifth year running in the Official Airline Ratings. Headquartered in London, it employs 6,500 people worldwide, flying customers to 27 destinations across four continents. Alongside shareholder and Joint Venture partner Delta Air Lines, Virgin Atlantic operates a leading transatlantic network, with onward connections to over 200 cities around the world. On 3 February 2020, Air France-KLM, Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic launched an expanded Joint Venture, offering a comprehensive route network, convenient flight schedules, competitive fares and reciprocal frequent flyer benefits, including the ability to earn and redeem miles across all carriers.        

Sustainability remains central to the airline and since September 2019, Virgin Atlantic has welcomed seven brand new Airbus A350-1000 aircraft, helping to transform the fleet into one of the youngest, quietest and most fuel efficient in the sky. By 2022, the airline will operate a streamlined fleet of 38 twin engine aircraft following the retirement of its B747-400s and A340-600s, making its simplified fleet 10% more efficient than before the Covid-19 crisis impacted.  For more information visit www.virginatlantic.com or via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @virginatlantic. 

About easyJet:

easyJet is Europe’s leading airline offering a unique and winning combination of the best route network connecting Europe's primary airports, with great value fares and friendly service.

easyJet flies on more of Europe’s most popular routes than any other airline and carried more than 96 million passengers in 2019 – more than 16 million travelling for business. The airline has over 300 aircraft on nearly 1000 routes to more than 150 airports across 35 countries. Over 300 million Europeans live within one hour's drive of an easyJet airport.

easyJet aims to be a good corporate citizen, employing people on local contracts in eight countries across Europe in full compliance with national laws and recognising their trade unions. The airline supports several local charities and has a corporate partnership with UNICEF which has raised over £14m for the most vulnerable children since it was established in 2012.

The airline takes sustainability seriously and is committed to reaching net-zero emissions flying by 2050. Together with its partners Airbus and Wright Electric, easyJet is working to accelerate the development of zero-emission aircraft technology. In the meantime, the airline is offsetting the carbon emissions from the fuel used for all its flights, at no additional cost to its customers, and only supports projects that are certified by Gold Standard or the Verified Carbon Standard, internationally recognised certification schemes. In addition, easyJet continues to renew its fleet, operate efficiently, and aims to fill most of its seats. Through these activities, the airline has cut its carbon emissions per passenger kilometre efficiency by a third since 2000 and is committed to reducing this further.

Innovation is in easyJet’s DNA – since launching over 25 years ago, easyJet changed the way people fly to the present day where the airline leads the industry in digital, web, engineering and operational innovations to make travel more easy and affordable for its passengers.

The airline was named as Britain’s Most Admired Company of 2020 in the transport sector, retaining the leading position for a second year running. Britain's Most Admired Companies study is the longest-running annual survey of corporate reputation in the UK.

About Worldwide by easyJet

'Worldwide by easyJet' launched in 2017 as the first global airline connections service by a European low fares airline. Worldwide by easyJet offers self-connect and sales partnerships through a digital, virtual hub - simply and efficiently.

Worldwide by easyJet now connects at all easyJet airports across its network – and has expanded to connecting customers with 15 partner airlines.

This connectivity is enabled by technology partner Dohop whose innovative platform allows easyJet customers to book connections and forward flights on easyJet.com.  Worldwide by easyJet also allows easyJet passengers to connect with other easyJet flights.