Virgin to add three codeshare partners

Virgin Atlantic will launch three new codeshare partnerships this year, the carrier announced this week.

The first partnership is with Saudia, the flag carrier of Saudi Arabia. The first phase of the partnership is live and allows Virgin Atlantic customers travelling on flights from the US to purchase onward connections through London Heathrow and Manchester airports onto Saudia’s services to Jeddah and Riyadh.

The opportunities to earn Virgin Points and Tier Points, along with Virgin Points redemption, have been in place since March 2023, with online redemption launched last month, according to Virgin Atlantic. Saudia’s AlFursan loyalty members can earn and redeem points on Virgin Atlantic flights.

Saudia is a SkyTeam member, the airline alliance Virgin Atlantic joined in March 2023.

The second partnership is with SAS, which will become a SkyTeam member on 1 September. Virgin Atlantic and SAS are working “on a new commercial partnership with the best access to and from Scandinavian key hubs,” according to the UK-based carrier. 

The routes are still to be finalised, but the codeshares will begin once SAS formally joins SkyTeam. Virgin Atlantic’s Flying Club loyalty programme members will receive instant earning and redemption opportunities on 1 September, and SAS Eurobonus members will be able to earn and redeem their points on Virgin Atlantic.

The third partnership is with El Al. From 10 June, Virgin Atlantic will place its code on El Al flights between Heathrow and Tel Aviv. El Al will place its code on Virgin Atlantic Heathrow-Tel Aviv flights when they restart on 5 September.

The resumed flights will operate daily with Airbus A330 aircraft, offering connections through Heathrow to 14 US destinations on 33 daily flights operated by Virgin Atlantic and partner Delta Air Lines. 

The El Al operated flights will be able to connect to 11 US destinations on 23 daily flights, according to Virgin Atlantic.

The partnership also will offer reciprocal earning and redemption opportunities, as well as premium customer recognition and tier benefits for eligible members of Virgin Atlantic’s Flying Club and El Al’s Matmid loyalty programmes, according to Virgin Atlantic.