Aberdeen travellers can now fly to more international destinations via Heathrow with a single check in and bag drop.
Flybe has signed a new code share agreement with Virgin Atlantic which means fliers from Aberdeen and Edinburgh can now book “seamless” flights to international destinations including Johannesburg, Los Angeles, Boston, Seattle, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Dubai.
The new Flybe codeshare flights to London Heathrow will operate from 26th March – offering up to three services per day from Aberdeen Airport and four services daily from Edinburgh.
It comes after the firm signed another code share deal with Singapore Airlines in November.
The Exeter-based carrier has been on a programme of change since it announced the departure of former boss Saad Hammad late last year.
In December Flybe revealed that it would operate three daily round-trips between the Granite City and Heathrow from the end of March, as well as a Saturday service and two flights each way on Sundays.
In November, a franchise agreement between Flybe and Paisley-based Loganair offering lifeline services to the covers lifeline flights in the Highlands and islands collapsed after eight years. There has been no impact on routes to these airports.
Erik Varwijk, executive vice president, commercial for Virgin Atlantic said: “Our partnership with Flybe will bring the world a little closer to Scotland with exciting new Virgin Atlantic destinations available across the US, Asia, and Africa.
“The extended codeshare agreement builds on the partnership we announced last year which has proved popular with customers across the UK.
“We look forward to offering easy connections to some of our most popular destinations such as the US cities of San Francisco and Boston, as well as helping to boost business and investment with access to major hubs such as Hong Kong and Dubai.”
Vincent Hodder, Flybe’s chief revenue officer, added: “Flybe is especially delighted that this extension of our valued codeshare partnership with Virgin will enable us to better serve Scottish travellers and global visitors, further realising our ambition of being a ‘One Stop to the World’ for the UK regions.
“We greatly look forward to cementing our commitment to Scotland and welcoming even more Virgin passengers on board our new Heathrow flights from Aberdeen and Edinburgh when they start at the end of March.”
