The new codeshare partnership between Virgin Atlantic and China Eastern officially started today, opening up new destinations in China, including Chengdu, Changsha, Qingdao, Shenzhen and Xi’an.
On Tuesday (January 30, 2024), Virgin Atlantic announced the official start of their codeshare partnership with China Eastern Airlines. Virgin customers traveling to Shanghai can now enjoy seamless one-stop connectivity to five additional destinations in China on a single ticket, including Chengdu, Changsha, Qingdao, Shenzhen and Xi’an. The two SkyTeam member airlines are conveniently located at Shanghai Pudong’s Terminal One for convenient transfers, and codeshare flights are now bookable through all distribution channels.
In Tuesday’s announcement, Virgin Atlantic’s Chief Commercial Officer, Juha Jarvinen, said,
“China and East Asia is an incredibly important region for Virgin Atlantic and we were delighted to welcome back our Heathrow to Shanghai service last year, providing vital links to one of the UK’s largest trading partners, for both passenger and cargo services.
“Our new codeshare with China Eastern, a fellow SkyTeam partner, will serve continued demand for travel to the region and strengthens our commitment to China and East Asia. We know these agreements bring plenty of benefits to our customers, from increased network scope to China and beyond, to reciprocal loyalty rewards for our Flying Club members.”
Subject to government approval, China Eastern customers will soon have the ability to connect via London Heathrow one Virgin Atlantic flights to Caribbean and African destinations such as Jamaica, Nassau, Lagos Cape Town and Johannesburg. At Shanghai Pudong’s Terminal One, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Gold and Silver Members and China Eastern Miles members can take advantage of SkyPriority services, including priority check-in and boarding, as well as an extra baggage allowance. The expanded codeshare will also allow Flying Club members to earn Virgin Points and Tier Points on every codeshare flight with China Eastern, with the option to spend Virgin Points coming soon.
Founded by entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson in 1984, Virgin Atlantic has brought innovation and the highest level of customer care to the airline industry. The carrier was voted Britain’s only Global Five Star Airline by APEX in 2023 for the seventh consecutive year. Headquartered in London, Virgin Atlantic employs over 7,500 team members worldwide. The airline currently serves 30 destinations across four continents. Alongside shareholder and Joint Venture partner Delta Air Lines, Virgin Atlantic operates a leading network between the US and UK, with onward connections to over 200 cities around the world. Virgin Atlantic is a member of the global SkyTeam alliance.
Source: Virgin Atlantic
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