For the upcoming winter season, Virgin Atlantic plans to operate dedicated cargo flights between London (LHR) and Brussels (BRU). The 218-mile flight will operate between October 27, 2024, and March 29, 2025, on a mix of Airbus A330-300s and Airbus A350-1000s.
The aim of the service is reportedly to transport time-critical goods, such as perishables and pharmaceuticals, which are today primarily transported between the two areas by truck service. These flights will offer cargo capacity of up to 50 tons, offering companies the opportunity to export and import goods between Europe and markets in the UK and across Virgin Atlantic’s network, with fast air connectivity.
In 2021/2022, the carrier had offered the same flights in partnership with Titan Airways using one of its Airbus A321 freighters. Before the partnership with Titan, the flights were operated as cargo-only passenger flights. They were initially launched in response to border hold ups caused by Covid/Brexit.
Juha Jarvinen, chief commercial officer, said: “During the winter period, we will operate services to Brussels, a destination we are familiar with having flown there successfully during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“This new service will transport a range of goods including perishables and pharmaceuticals, offering fast connections for our customers between Brussels and the wider European region and Virgin Atlantic’s extensive route network via London Heathrow.”
After the freighter service ended in 2022, Phil Wardlow, the then Virgin Atlantic Cargo managing director, indicated that the operation had proved popular with customers but it would be difficult to continue the service as a freighter operation.
Here’s how Juha Jarvinen, Virgin Atlantic’s Chief Commercial Officer, describes this addition:
“During the winter period, we will operate services to Brussels, a destination we are familiar with having flown there successfully during the Covid-19 pandemic. This new service will transport a range of goods including perishables and pharmaceuticals, offering fast connections for our customers between Brussels and the wider European region and Virgin Atlantic’s extensive route network via London Heathrow.”
