Virgin Atlantic gives CSafe RAP containers the thumbs up
Virgin Atlantic Cargo has become the first UK airline to approve the use of CSafe’s RAP container for temperature-sensitive life-enhancing healthcare products. Under the terms of its Master Lease Agreement with CSafe, Virgin is now accepting bookings for the RAP containers, which have received approval from both the US Federal Aviation Administration and the European […]
Virgin and Delta’s LHR pharma traffic set for bright future
The new joint Virgin Atlantic Cargo and Delta Cargo Pharma Zone at Heathrow Airport is already paying dividends for both belly carriers. The facility was opened in September and developed in response to customer requirements and to support the growing pharmaceutical volumes moved by both and to capture further pharma business on the world’s busiest […]
The belly-maindeck divide continues to widen
With the air cargo market’s up-turn now rolling for over a year, memories of the long, cold, dark days of flagging volumes and depressed yields may gradually be receding in the collective memories of the industry, writes Donald Urquhart. But parked freighters remain a visible reminder of the painful volatility and begs the question as […]
Key senior appointments made by Virgin Atlantic Cargo
Virgin Atlantic Cargo has appointed Paul Fallon (pictured above) as director of commercial & business development and Tania Wilson (pictured below) as director of operations. The changes follow Dominic Kennedy’s promotion to managing director of Virgin Atlantic Cargo in August. Fallon began his career in Virgin’s commercial team in 2003 and later spent over five […]
Virgin Australia increases Melbourne – Hong Kong capacity
Virgin Australia is increasing cargo capacity on its Melbourne – Hong Kong services with daily services from 12 November. Volumes have been increasing steadily in both directions since Virgin Australia commenced five Airbus A330-200 flights a week in July, and the airline says the extra capacity provided by the new daily service will support the […]
Virgin and Delta open joint Pharma Zone at Heathrow Airport
Virgin Atlantic Cargo and Delta Cargo today launched a new Pharma Zone at their joint facility at London Heathrow Airport. This is the first joint venture cargo between the UK and the US, which is the world’s biggest trade lane for pharmaceuticals. The Pharma Zone will support the growing volumes of temperature-controlled healthcare and life science […]
Paterson chosen as Virgin account manager for Melbourne
Jarrod Paterson has joined Virgin Atlantic Cargo as account manager – Melbourne to support the launch of Melbourne services by Virgin Australia. Virgin Atlantic is responsible for long-haul cargo sales and management services for Virgin Australia, which has served Los Angeles from Melbourne with five Boeing 777-300ER flights a week since April and five Airbus […]
Kennedy to take over as Virgin Atlantic Cargo managing director
Dominic Kennedy is to take over as managing director of Virgin Atlantic Cargo, taking over from John Lloyd on 14 August. He joined Virgin Atlantic in 2005 beginning his career in the fleet and network planning team before moving to Cargo in 2008, and held a number of positions before becoming director of commercial planning. […]
Delta Cargo the highest performing US domestic carrier
Delta Cargo says it had the highest average NFD percentage for total airport-to-airport shipments amongst North American carriers over last 12 months at 81.31 per cent. This it says continues the improved operational reliability trend, which has seen it lead the North American carriers domestic belly-carrier market in average NFD performance for total airport-to-airport shipments […]
Hactl wins new Virgin Atlantic Cargo contract
Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited (Hactl) has been appointed as the cargo ground handler for Virgin Australia’s new services from Melbourne to Hong Kong. Hactl will provide terminal handling and all documentation on the five-times-weekly flights which began on 5 July, using Airbus A330-200 aircraft with 14 tonne bellyhold capacity. Cargo sales on these Virgin […]
Virgin Atlantic Cargo makes senior sales team appointments
Virgin Atlantic Cargo has made two senior appointments to its sales team, which it says comes at a time it is seeing soaring volumes, most notably from its home market in the UK. Ryan Ellis (pictured above left) takes up the position of head of global accounts while Ray Wood (pictured above right) joins the […]
David Geer appointed new MD of Virgin Atlantic Cargo
Virgin Atlantic Cargo has appointed a new managing director (MD) in the shape of David Geer (pictured below) who will succeed John Lloyd who will leave the airline in August after 30 years. Geer joined Virgin Atlantic in April 2012 and has spent the last five years with Virgin Holidays, most recently as commercial, product and business development […]
Virgin adds 7th daily New York flight with Manchester service
Virgin Atlantic Cargo is now operating seven flights a day, seven days a week to and from New York with the addition of daily flights from Manchester to New York JFK. The Manchester flight is in addition to five daily services from Heathrow Airport to New York John F. Kennedy International Airport and the daily […]
Virgin Australia to launch Melbourne – Hong Kong flights
Virgin Atlantic Cargo is to increase capacity to Australia with Melbourne – Hong Kong flights by its partner, Virgin Australia from 5 July. The five Airbus A330-200 flights a week will offer 14 tonnes of capacity, and Virgin Atlantic Cargo will be responsible for selling all of the capacity on these flights, extending its long-haul […]
Air Cargo Week World Air Cargo Awards 2017 winners announced
Excellence in the air cargo industry was celebrated last night at the glittering Air Cargo Week World Air Cargo Awards in Munich. The luxurious Westin Hotel saw a crescendo of cheering and applause for the reputable accolades as ecstatic winners in the 10 categories raised their trophies aloft. Broadcaster and television director Nadia Dunn compered the […]
Virgin aims to capitalise on pharma and e-commerce growth
As an airline that has grown up on transatlantic routes over more than 30 years, Virgin Atlantic Cargo says it is perfectly placed to capitalise of two of the industry’s fastest-growing trends; e-commerce and pharmaceutical shipments. Virgin now provides some 30 per cent of all capacity on transatlantic routes, the world’s largest pharma trade lane […]
John Lloyd to leave Virgin Atlantic Cargo in September
Virgin Atlantic Cargo’s senior vice president for cargo, John Lloyd is to leave the carrier in September for a fresh challenge. Lloyd has spent 30 years at Virgin and joined as cargo operations officer based at Gatwick Airport, and progressed within the company from supervisory and management positions based at Heathrow and Gatwick. He started […]
E-commerce and pharma fuel Virgin in the East
The US East coast was one of Virgin Atlantic Cargo’s best-performing markets in 2016 in terms of volumes with 112,000 tonnes carried to and from the region – up nine per cent year-on-year. E-commerce was one of the drivers of the airline’s growth with a record number of US-bound shipments in the fourth quarter, a […]
Virgin strengthens Australian team with new Sydney account manager
Virgin Atlantic Cargo has strengthened its Australian team by picking Amanda Matar as account manager – Sydney. She joins as the airline increases its long-haul cargo sales and management services for Virgin Australia with the launch of five Boeing 777-300ER flights a week from Melbourne to Los Angeles in April. Matar reports to Pip Palmer, […]
Strong peak season helps Virgin freight volumes grow 1.8% in 2016
Virgin Atlantic Cargo’s freight volumes rose 1.8 per cent in 2016 helped by a strong second half of the year and high peak season, with revenue of £174 million ($218.4 million). The airline carried 218,000 tonnes but says growth was offset by price pressure driven by overcapacity in the market and weakness of the pound, […]
Virgin Atlantic to increase UK – US services for 2017
Virgin Atlantic Cargo is to provide more UK – US services in 2017 with daily London – Seattle flights and more routes from Manchester. It will start London Heathrow – Seattle Tacoma flights on 26 March followed by three Manchester – San Francisco services a week from 28 March and a twice-weekly service to Boston […]
60 Seconds with John Lloyd
60 Seconds with Virgin Atlantic Cargo’s senior vice president for cargo, John Lloyd Justin Burns, ACW: How was business in 2016? Lloyd: We’ve actually managed to increase our market share in what is still an extremely competitive, challenging and unpredictable global cargo market. We expected 2016 to be difficult because of all the economic factors […]
Phillips to manage Virgin Atlantic Cargo European sales
Virgin Atlantic Cargo has promoted Claire Phillips to the role of regional sales manager – Continental Europe, where she will be responsible for revenue and budget attainment in the region. Phillips, who has worked for the airline for five years, will work closely with Virgin Atlantic Cargo’s customers in the region and be the direct […]
Virgin Atlantic Cargo renews Virgin Australia sales and management deal
Virgin Atlantic Cargo has renewed its agreement to provide Virgin Australia with international long-haul cargo sales and management. The two airlines have worked together since February 2009 and the extension follows the launch of Virgin Australia Cargo to manage Virgin Australia’s cargo operations across its domestic and short-haul international network last year. Virgin Atlantic will […]
Virgin Atlantic Cargo welcomes capacity uplift from A350
Virgin Atlantic Cargo says its new $4.4 billion order for 12 Airbus A350-1000 aircraft will boost its cargo capacity and in turn provide added benefits to customers. The airline says the investment demonstrates the strength of its commitment to customer experience as it continues to focus on delivering sustained profit in the long term. It is part […]
Pharma focus for Virgin Atlantic Cargo
Virgin Atlantic Cargo is increasing its investment in temperature-controlled services after more than doubling its share of the pharmaceutical market from the UK to North America since the launch of its Cool Chain product two years ago. Heading the strategy is Darren Sherlock in the newly-created role of manager for products and partnerships. He helped develop […]
Virgin awards GSA contract to VN Cargo in Nigeria
Virgin Atlantic Cargo has appointed VN Cargo Connect as its new general sales agency (GSA) partner in Lagos, Nigeria. The airline operates daily Airbus A330 flights to and from Nigeria’s largest city. In support of the new Virgin Atlantic contract, VN Cargo Connect has increased the size of its sales team in Nigeria from seven […]
Buckerfield appointed Virgin Atlantic Cargo vice president sales
Virgin Atlantic Cargo has appointed Steve Buckerfield as its vice president sales, a role which will consist of him leading the airline’s global sales team and be responsible for sales across its international network. Buckerfield started his carrier in 1984 at Emery Worldwide, before moving to American Airlines Cargo in 1990, where he stayed for […]
Virgin and Delta to co-locate cargo handling in the UK
Virgin Atlantic Cargo and Delta Cargo are to co-locate their dnata cargo handling facilities under one roof across the UK. The airlines will co-locate their cargo handling at London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Manchester, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Belfast, Birmingham, East Midlands, Leeds/Bradford and Newcastle from 8 June. The companies say the move will provide single drop-off […]
Delta and Virgin to strengthen UK – US network
Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic are to strengthen their UK – US networks by sharing flights, which will include the first London – Portland service. From the summer of 2017, the two airlines will optimise their joint network, which they say will offer customers more choice and flexibility. The changes for Delta will include […]
