Virgin Atlantic uses Heathrow slots as collateral for $745m Apollo loan Aviation Virgin Atlantic has borrowed $745m (£564m) from alternatives giant Apollo in a groundbreaking private credit deal that will see the airline use the value of its landing slots at Heathrow as collateral. Virgin said it would use the funds to pay down a legacy debt and make upgrades worth hundreds of millions of pounds to [...]
Virgin Atlantic CEO in the departure lounge as successor named Transport and infrastructure The chief executive of Virgin Atlantic, which was founded by Sir Richard Branson, is to step down as his successor was named. Shai Weiss is to leave his position at Virgin Atlantic after seven years at the end of 2025. He will be succeeded by Corneel Koster. Koster re-joined Virgin Atlantic in 2019 as a [...]
Surinder Arora: Heathrow could be the next Thames Water Transport and infrastructure Surinder Arora is the man bidding to break a decades-old monopoly by winning the right to build Heathrow’s third runway. With the government’s first remarks on proposals expected this month, he sits down with Ali Lyon to discuss the merits of his proposal, the reasons behind it, and why he thinks that – without urgent [...]
Sell-out Farnborough International Airshow boosted by Airbus and Boeing deals July 29, 2025 Finances at the company behind the Farnborough International Airshow took off after the bi-annual show saw deals worth more £81bn agreed, it has been revealed. The accounts for Farnborough International, which runs the airshow as well as an exhibition and conference centre alongside two film studios, show the business achieved a turnover of £52.3m in [...]
Virgin Atlantic and British Airways owner’s fury at Heathrow charge hike July 11, 2025 Plans for a fresh landing charge hike at Heathrow Airport have triggered fury from its largest airline stakeholders, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic. The UK’s biggest airport on Friday announced its intention to hike the levy it charges airlines for using its runways by 17 per cent, a move that will likely push up ticket [...]
Heathrow: Third runway car park plans more costly than entire Gatwick expansion July 11, 2025 Upheaving Heathrow Airport’s car parks as part of plans for a third runway would cost more than the entire expansion of its closest rival Gatwick, leaked documents that reveal the magnitude of financing the controversial project show. The UK’s biggest airport plans to replace most, if not all, of its existing car parks to build [...]
Heathrow: Sir Richard Branson eyes terminal as Virgin Atlantic and British Airways push for more control May 5, 2025 Sir Richard Branson could end up taking over one of Heathrow Airport’s terminals if the airport succumbs to pressure from airlines to reform its regulatory model. The billionaire’s airline Virgin Atlantic is plotting to seize greater control of the UK’s busiest hub alongside its long-running rival, British Airways’ parent company IAG. The two carriers are [...]
Virgin Atlantic boss slams Heathrow chief for dozing during fire April 28, 2025 A decision by the head of Heathrow Airport to go to bed during last month’s substation fire was “questionable,” the chief executive of one of its main airlines has said. In an interview with the Telegraph, Virgin Atlantic boss Shai Weiss said the behaviour of Thomas Woldbye was not that expected of a chief executive. [...]
Why Virgin Atlantic boss won’t meet British Airways chief alone November 25, 2024 The boss of Virgin Atlantic has revealed the legacy of the dirty tricks scandal in the early 1990s will mean he will never meet his British Airways counterpart alone. Shai Weiss has said that while he has “professional respect” for Sean Doyle, he remains cautious and does “not want to get caught out”. Three decades [...]
‘Dangerous and destructive’ Hurricane Milton makes landfall in Florida October 10, 2024 Hurricane Milton has made landfall as a Category Three storm, with the Met Office warning it will be “dangerous and destructive” as thousands of UK holidaymakers had their flights to Florida cancelled. Milton made landfall near Siesta Key, Florida, at about 8.30pm local time. The US National Hurricane Centre reports the hurricane had maximum sustained [...]