Virgin's Senior VP for North America Chris Rossi is flanked by two cabin crew
(L-R) Phil Williams, Aviation Security, Virgin; Alex Budden, British Consul-General, Vancouver and Andy Grodecki, VP Sales – North America, Virgin
The airline flew these London-based flight attendants in specially for this event
Vancouverites were pumped. And for good reason too. Besides emerging victorious at the Grey Cup, the local travel agent community cheerfully greeted the news that Virgin Atlantic will be starting a new route from Vancouver to London in spring 2012.
During the soirée at the British-influenced The New Oxford watering hole in YVR, Virgin staff were constantly being ribbed about why Virgin’s head honcho, Richard Branson, was not in town for this announcement. In response, a staff member from SFO said, “But I’ve shaken his hand, would you like to touch my hand?”
Chris Rossi, Virgin’s Senior Vice President for North America, was on hand with several staff from U.S. offices to meet with the trade. Rossi assured the crowd that Virgin is committed to the Vancouver market. The airline was last in Canada in 2001 when it operated short-lived flights between YYZ and LHR. Although Vancouver’s passenger volume is not as large as YTO’s, according to Rossi, the airline felt that YVR was a better fit due to its varied market segments.
Agents are getting a running head start as tickets (which will be commissionable, amount of which is yet to be determined) have gone on sale eff. 01DEC and will only be open to the public in mid-December. There is a dedicated trade website: vsflyinghub.com that among other things, will feature promotions, incentives and training modules for agents.
From May 26th to October 2012, the carrier will operate 4 services weekly on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Using an Airbus A340-300, the aircraft will feature 34 Upper Class (aka Business Class) seats, 35 in Premium Economy and 171 Economy seats. Upper Class passengers also get complimentary pick-up limo service.
As part of its launch celebrations, agents could win a pair of seats on the inaugural Vancouver-London flight. Details are available at: vsflyinghub.com/loveatfirstflight.
And who knows, maybe you could be the one shaking the hands of the man himself, Sir Richard, who according to inside sources, could possibly make an appearance during said flight.
