Virgin Atlantic has set up their office in Dubai and will commence services between Dubai and London Heathrow from 28 March 2006. This is Virgin Atlantic’s first new route in 2006 and will be the 111th airline to fly into Dubai International Airport.
Since it was founded in 1984, Virgin Atlantic Airways has become Britain’s second largest carrier serving the world’s major cities. Virgin Atlantic has enjoyed huge popularity, winning top business, consumer and trade awards from around the world. The airline has pioneered a range of innovations setting new standards of service, where its competitors have subsequently sought to follow.
Virgin Atlantic in the Middle East is managed by Mr. Andrew Fyfe, Regional Manager for the Middle East & Indian Sub-continent, who was previously based in New Delhi, India as General Manager for Virgin Atlantic.
Mr. Fyfe stated that “we are delighted to have set up our office in Dubai and are ready to begin flights on the 28th March 2006, 4 times a week to London non-stop and then build up to daily from 2nd June 2006”. At which time Virgin Atlantic will be using the A340-600 which provides the V-Port in-flight entertainment system, “this offers entertainment on demand, which means you can pause, fast forward or rewind, just like at home” adds Mr. Fyfe.
For the Heathrow and Dubai route Virgin Atlantic will offer three classes of travel – Economy, Premium Economy and Upper Class. Passengers can experience the airline’s latest innovation onboard with the award-winning Upper Class Suite, which provides the longest fully flat bed in business class.
The Upper Class Suite consists of a reclining leather seat for take off, a place to sit and eat a meal with your travelling companion, the longest fully flat bed flying with a mattress for sleeping on, meeting area with onboard bar and a private area for inflight beauty treatments.
The Virgin Atlantic Upper Class experience also includes a complimentary limo service to and from the airport including Drive Thru Check In at Heathrow. The Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse at Heathrow offers a Business Centre, the Bumble and bumble salon and the Cowshed Spa. On board the Upper Class experience continues with the Freedom menu where passengers can eat what they want, when they want, awarding winning inflight entertainment with up to 300 hours of video and audio on demand – a first class service all for a business class price.
Despite Virgin Atlantic’s growth the service still remains customer driven with an emphasis on value for money, quality, fun and innovation. To help celebrate Virgin Atlantic’s new route they will be offering a special launch fare for passengers flying to London from 28 March to 30 April. More details about the offer can be found by contacting your local travel agent or visiting www.virgin-atlantic.com
Commenting how the competition will react to Virgin entering the market, Mr. Fyfe stated ‘we fully anticipate and expect our competitors to come out with an ad campaign perhaps a week before our inaugural flight, as we have seen in other markets’
Virgin Atlantic’s office in Dubai is located on Khalid bin Waleed Street on 3rd floor of Sharaf Travel with a dedicated reservations and ticketing office, along with sales, marketing, finance and IT.
Virgin Atlantic will launch its service between London and Dubai launch from 28 March 2006. The non-stop flights, operated by an Airbus 340-300 between Heathrow and Dubai will operate four days a week from 28 March 2006, increasing to five days a week from 1 May and daily from 2 June. From 2 June flights will be operated by an Airbus A340-600 – the longest commercial aircraft in the world. Flights to Dubai will depart from Heathrow at 21.00, arriving into Dubai International Airport at 06.55 the following morning. Return flights depart Dubai at 14:50, arriving into Heathrow at 19:10 the same day. For further information please contact the Virgin Atlantic Press Office on +441293 747373 or log onto www.virginatlantic.com
About Tonic PR:
Tonic PR is part of the Tonic Communications Group of Companies, a group of marketing communication organizations whose fresh strategic approach and innovative solutions are turning the industry on its head. Tonic Communications is the agency that recently won golden advertising awards at both the Cannes Lions, which has a 52 year history, and the One Show in New York, which has a 30 year history. It is the first agency in the Middle East to ever win these awards. The Tonic Group of Companies consists of: Tonic Communications, Tonic Design, Tonic Research, Tonic Media and Tonic PR.
