Sir Richard Branson made a grand entrance at Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ), celebrating Virgin Atlantic’s long-awaited return to Canada.
TravelPulse Canada was airside under blue skies, capturing all the excitement as the airline officially launched its direct service between YYZ and London Heathrow (LHR).
As the cabin door opened, the British and Canadian flags side by side, were the first to make an exit. Fouzia Younis, British Consul General to Toronto turned to the small gathering and asked, "Doesn't this make you emotional?"
Branson, President of Virgin Atlantic and Founder of Virgin Group, appeared at the top of the exit stairway with arms raised, drawing cheers from the assembled crowd.
Sir Richard Branson arrives at YYZ to cheers from the crowd. (Photo Credit: Virgin Atlantic)
“Canada, we’ve missed you! It’s been more than a decade, but we’re back and here to do it properly," Branson said.
I’m delighted to see Virgin Atlantic's return to Toronto, a city with so much spirit and energy. With our incredible crew, exceptional service, and a strong network of partners, we can’t wait to welcome customers onboard."
The airline's return marks Virgin Atlantic’s first Canadian route since 2014, reconnecting the two major financial hubs. The daily service, operated on a Boeing 787-9, is expected to carry over 165,000 passengers annually.
Sir Richard Branson marks Virgin Atlantic's return to YYZ (Photo Credit: Virgin Atlantic)
During a press conference, Branson spoke about the power of travel to educate and inspire compassion, stating: "The more people travel, the more they realize we are all one human species, and how important that is. Canada has been really good at embracing people from all sorts of different countries, and I think Canada should be lauded for doing that."
Passengers flying from Toronto will have one-stop connections via London Heathrow to cities including Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Johannesburg, Lagos, Tel Aviv, and Beirut.
Through a codeshare partnership with WestJet, passengers can connect through Toronto Pearson’s Terminal 3 to 13 destinations across Canada, including Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, Winnipeg, and Ottawa. Loyalty program benefits between Virgin Atlantic’s Flying Club and WestJet Rewards are expected to launch later this year.
“We are proud to welcome Virgin Atlantic back to Canada! Through our expanded partnership, together we are able to deliver unmatched value and convenience to our guests," said John Weatherill, Executive Vice-President and Chief Commercial Officer of WestJet.
“We are proud to welcome Virgin Atlantic back to Canada," said John Weatherill, CCO of WestJet. (Photo Credit: Virgin Atlantic)
"With our co-location at Toronto-Pearson Terminal 3, our guests can enjoy a smooth journey on one ticket with through baggage check-in across both of our networks, connecting all of Canada with Virgin Atlantic’s global network to London and beyond."
Juha Jarvinen, the Chief Commercial Officer of Virgin Atlantic, highlighted the importance of the airline’s return, stating, "This time, we are here to stay."
"Toronto is not only a thriving financial hub, but also a gateway to one of the most vibrant and diverse countries in the world. With our strong transatlantic focus, expanded connectivity to India, and exciting new partnership with WestJet, the timing couldn’t be better.”
During a press conference, Branson spoke about the power of travel to educate and inspire compassion. (Photo Credit: Natasha Lair-McKenty)
Virgin Atlantic’s return to Canada also strengthens its Joint Venture with Delta Air Lines and Air France-KLM, which collectively operate over 100 flights per week between Europe and seven Canadian gateways.
Branson also reaffirmed Virgin Atlantic’s commitment to travel advisors, stating: "We work very closely with the travel trade. We will continue to do so. We need you and you need us."
Flights are on sale now, with fares starting from £391 ($1,101 CAD) in Economy, £881 ($2,516 CAD) in Premium, and £1,809 ($3,739 CAD) in Upper Class.
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