Virgin Atlantic and ANA sign Alliance Agreement

From April 1 this year, Virgin Atlantic and All Nippon Airways (ANA) will extend their combination fares - allowing customers to combine ANA and Virgin Atlantic flights between London and Asia in the same round-trip - from journeys taken in economy class to include premium economy and business class travel, giving them greater choice and convenience.

Furthermore, the range of special joint round the world (RTW) fares utilising the networks of both carriers will be extended to cover premium economy in addition to the currently available business and economy.

Willy Boulter, Virgin Atlantic’s Group Commercial Director, said, “We are delighted to be signing an alliance agreement with ANA which will enable both carriers to start working closer together in many areas of the business, including airport and inflight services, and hope that this will pave the way to a possible codeshare agreement in the future.”

Mr Katsuhiko Kitabayashi, ANA’s Executive Vice President for International Relations added, “Once again, ANA and Virgin Atlantic are demonstrating the positive benefits to customers that an alliance agreement of this kind can bring. We are competitors but work together where possible to strengthen what both carriers have to offer. We look forward to exploring other ways to work together and providing our customers with greater choice and convenience.”

Virgin and ANA first began working together in June 2003, when they tied-up Frequent Flyer Programmes, allowing ANA and Virgin Atlantic passengers to accrue and redeem mileage on each other’s network.

In addition to combination and RTW fares, since September last year, the carriers have also offered Circle Asia fares, which give greater travel options and choices to passengers travelling from the UK through common gateways in Asia. All fare types are subject to mileage accrual and redemption.

In a further move designed to provide even more convenience and simplicity of travel with greater security, Virgin Atlantic and ANA will finalise an interline e-ticket agreement, allowing passengers to combine Virgin Atlantic flights and ANA flights in the same e-ticket.

To commemorate the new alliance agreement, from April 1 to May 31, Virgin Atlantic and ANA will be host an online prize draw, in which 20 pairs of economy class London-Tokyo round-trip combination fare tickets can be won.

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