EL AL and Virgin Atlantic announce a new codeshare and loyalty rewards partnership, enhancing connectivity and member benefits on the Tel Aviv-London route.
EL AL announced a new codeshare and loyalty club sharing agreement with British airline Virgin Atlantic, a member of the SkyTeam global airline alliance. The agreements, signed during the IATA AGM conference in Dubai, mark a significant step in enhancing connectivity and benefits for passengers. The signing ceremony was attended by Israel’s airline CEO Dina Ben Tal Ganancia and Virgin Atlantic CEO Shai Weiss.
As part of this partnership, passengers will enjoy increased flexibility on the Tel Aviv-London (Heathrow) route. The EL AL code (LY) will be added to Virgin Atlantic-operated flights, while the Virgin Atlantic code (VS) will be added to EL AL-operated flights on this route.
Members of EL AL’s Matmid Frequent Flyer Club and Virgin Atlantic’s Flying Club will benefit from reciprocal loyalty rewards. Points can be accumulated and redeemed on flights operated by both airlines, not just on the London. Tel Aviv- route, offering greater value and earning potential for frequent flyers.
Tickets for codeshare flights on the London – Tel Aviv route will be available for purchase starting June 10, for flights departing from June 19, 2024. Travelers can book these flights through both airlines’ websites or via travel agents.
EL AL’s collaboration with Virgin Atlantic joins several other partnership agreements, including agreements with Delta Air Lines, providing codeshare flights, club agreements, and connectivity to numerous destinations across the Americas, SAS for seamless travel to various Scandinavian destinations, and Air France for enhanced services on the Tel Aviv-Paris route.
Shlomi Zafrany, VP of Commercial and Aviation Relations at EL AL, stated: “This strategic partnership with Virgin Atlantic is a pivotal component of our commitment to expanding our route network, enhancing our flight schedules, and delivering greater value to our Matmid frequent flyer members. The new agreement significantly enhances our offerings on the highly sought-after Tel Aviv-London route and extends valuable benefits across the entire Virgin Atlantic network. EL AL remains dedicated to forging strong partnerships with leading airlines globally, continually expanding our service reach to meet our customers’ needs.”
