Virgin Atlantic Cargo and Delta Cargo are promising customers more choice and automation as their trans-Atlantic joint venture celebrates its fifth anniversary.

The partnership has increased customers’ access to major cities in the UK and North America with a 20% rise in the number of flights since the joint venture began.

Customers now have a choice of 74 daily flights serving 28 routes between the UK and US, which in 2018 carried over a quarter of total trans-Atlantic air cargo volumes.

Shawn Cole, vice president of Delta Cargo says: “The original deal was a game changer for Delta transforming our ability to compete on trans-Atlantic routes with access to London Heathrow as much as providing Virgin Atlantic unparalleled access to Delta’s US network.”

Dominic Kennedy, managing director of Virgin Atlantic Cargo says: “We are very excited about what more we can achieve as a cargo JV and have been inspired by the great relationship and mutual respect between our cargo teams.

“Our partnership benefits and strengthens our respective cargo businesses, leverages the best of both airlines, and, ultimately, will continue to offer new opportunities for our customers as we move forward together.”

2019 is shaping up to be an exciting year, with the airlines moving into a state-of-the-art warehouse at London Heathrow, plus a focus on digitisation and ensuring transparency throughout the shipment journey.

Delta is adding Edinburgh – Boston services, while Virgin will add another daily flight between Boston and Heathrow.

Virgin will also add flights from Manchester with direct services to Los Angeles, and increased frequencies to Las Vegas, Boston and New York.