The partnership offers Virgin Atlantic customers up to 58 new routes from 18 UK airports across the Atlantic via Paris and Amsterdam
In a major new tie-up Virgin Atlantic, Air France and KLM have confirmed recent talks were all about a codeshare deal that is designed to create new trans-Atlantic travel options to and from North America and provide more opportunities to earn frequent flyer miles.
Delta broke the news of the new codeshare arrangement which will enable passengers to make their ideal itinerary across the Atlantic by combining flights operated by Air France, KLM, Virgin Atlantic and Delta. People booking on a codeshare benefit from seamless connections, and a single booking reference. Plus those travelling on codeshare flights will also be able to earn miles, and redeem them via their own airline loyalty scheme.
The codeshare deal will also see the airlines work together in terms of fares to ensure more uniformaty across the four carriers pricing structure.
The codeshare partnership means Air France and KLM customers will have access to 24 new North America routes operated by Virgin Atlantic/Delta departing the UK including connections via London Heathrow and Manchester.
Virgin Atlantic brings the UK’s regions closer to North America.
Virgin Atlantic customers can now book a wide range of additional flights at virginatlantic.com – opening up 58 new routes from 18 UK airports across the Atlantic with Air France and KLM. Examples of new route options from the UK include Edinburgh – Toronto via Amsterdam, and London Heathrow – Chicago via Paris.
Air France and KLM increase flight options across the Atlantic
Air France and KLM customers can now access 24 new routes to North America on flights operated by Virgin Atlantic and Delta departing the UK including connections via London Heathrow or Manchester. Customers can benefit from additional frequencies to destinations such as Miami from Amsterdam via London Heathrow alongside increased options to fly between Paris and New York-JFK via Manchester.
More options to fly Delta
Delta is building on its successful partnerships with Air France, KLM and Virgin Atlantic, giving customers from these airlines more opportunity to fly on Delta’s trans-Atlantic services. Virgin customers travelling between the United Kingdom and the US now have the choice to connect onto all of Delta’s flights over Amsterdam and Paris. Meanwhile, Air France and KLM customers have additional options to fly either nonstop or via the UK on all Delta services to the US.
Blue Skies
Virgin Atlantic, Delta and Air France–KLM are set to form an expanded joint venture later in 2019, named 'Blue Skies' which, subject to final clearance from regulators, the airlines will be founding members of a $13 billion trans-Atlantic partnership for customers between the UK, Europe and North America, offering over 300 daily trans-Atlantic flights, 108 non-stop routes, and over 340 destinations and will see price fixing on an epic scale.
(Images Delta)
