Inside Virgin Atlantic's multi-million makeover: Comfier seats, new planes & big news if you watch Netflix on flights
ON THE UP
ON THE UP Inside Virgin Atlantic's multi-million makeover: Comfier seats, new planes & big news if you watch Netflix on flights
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VIRGIN has revealed its huge multi-billon plans in the next decade.
The airline has already invested $17billion (£12.5billion) into upgrading their fleet, which will see 45 aircraft by 2028.
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More business and premium economy seats will be onboard
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It will be the first airline in the UK to have streaming quality WiFi onboard
And new major plans include a full retrofit of the Boeing 787-9 fleet, including the first Retreat Suite business class.
More premium economy and Upper Class seats are being added on the A330neo plans too, with plans for double the amount.
Not only that, but they are to be the first UK airline to have streaming-quality WiFi onboard, meaning you can watch your Netflix from your phone.
Using Starlink, all Flying Club members will be able to use it, with it being rolled out from next year and finished by 2027.
Siobhan Fitzpatrick, Chief Experience Officer, Virgin Atlantic, explained; "In a first for any UK airline, we'll soon have free, streaming quality, unlimited, fleet-wide Wi-Fi.
"Together with Starlink, we are delighted to provide our guests with the best connectivity in the skies, further elevating our onboard experience."
Other updates include an upgraded app, as well as a new AI concierge to help with booking holidays or on-holiday assistance.
Millions of pounds are also being invested into airport lounges after the launch of the LAX Clubhouse in the US.
Both London Heathrow and JFK will see upgrades lounges, along with new lounges in other destinations.
The Virgin Atlantic Flying Club will also let all passengers earn points, which don't expire.
I tried the adults-only Virgin Voyages cruise with 2am pizza parlours, rooftop bars and karaoke sessions-I tried the adults-only Virgin Voyages cruise with 2am pizza shops & rooftop bar
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The 787's will get a huge retrofit like the A330neos
Credit: Virgin Atlantic
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Airport lounges are also being upgraded
Flying taxis connecting airports to city centres were also announced with electric air taxi Joby, along with new toiletries onboard offered by Votary.
Shai Weiss, CEO of Virgin Atlantic, said "We are investing billions to fly the youngest fleet across the Atlantic.
"The first UK airline to have free, streaming quality, fleet-wide Wi-Fi; more premium cabins and a full retrofit of the 787 fleet; alongside a new app featuring the world of Virgin Atlantic in your pocket, all delivered by our amazing teams.
"The best is yet to come.'
Next year, Virgin Atlantic is launching flights to Seoul in South Korea.
From March 29 next year, daily flights will link the UK to the Korean city.
Other new Virgin flights include to Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, as well as increase flights to India to celebrate 25 years flying there.
And here is what it is like to go on a Virgin Voyages cruise holiday.
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BBC News
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Starlink react afta network glitch, as Musk order shutdown of Starlink satellite service for territory wey Ukraine retake from Russia
Billionaire Elon Musk don tok sorry afta Starling bin experience outage wia service bin go off and users no fit access am. Plenti users bin compain of how dem no fit use dia Starlink as dia internet no work again and dem wondr wetin cause am. Starlink confam say tru tru dia network go off and dem bin dey work to bring am back and solve di issue. "Starlink dey currently for network outage and we dey actively implement solution." Di new generation of Starlink owned by SpaceX satellites dey provide fast internet around di world. Di satellites dey provide broadband internet around di world, especially for remote places, wey include some kontris for Africa and challenging environments like Ukraine and Yemen. Dem also dey use am to connect remote areas of di UK to fast internet. For 2022, tests bin show say Starlink fit deliver internet speeds four times faster dan di average internet, according to di Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. Howeva, afta di Starlink network go off Musk say dem dey work to restore am and e no go happun again. "Service go dey restored shortly. Sorry for di outage. SpaceX go remedy root cause to ensure say e no happun again," Musk tok for X. Wetin cause Starlink outage? According to Michael Nicolls, VP of Starlink Engineering, na internal software service bin cause di outage wey make network go off. E say dem don restore di network and dem dey work to find wetin cause am so e no go happun again. "Starlink don dey mostly recova from di network outage, wey last for about 2.5 hours. Di outage na sake of failure of key internal software services wey dey operate di core network," Nicolls tok for X. Starlink for dia own reply say dem sabi how important e dey to dey connected, and dem beg say make pipo no vex for di kasala. How big Starlink presence be for Africa? Starlink dey operate for more dan 20 African kontris, wit Somalia, wey dey suffer from Islamist insurgency - give am10-year licence on 13 April, two days bifor Lesotho decide to give dem too. Starlink dey provide high-speed internet services to remote or underserved areas, e be a potential game-changer for rural areas wey no fit access traditional forms of connectivity such as mobile broadband and fibre. Dis na beco Starlink, instead of relying on fibre optics or cables to transmit data, dey use a network of satellites for low Earth orbit. Becos dem dey closer to di ground, dem get faster transmission speeds dan traditional satellites. Nigeria na di first African state to allow Starlink to operate, for 2023. Di company since dat time don grown into di second-biggest internet service provider for di most-populous kontri for Africa. But Starlink no still get any presence for South Africa - di most industrialised nation for di continent. Enterprising locals bin don find way to connect to di service by using regional roaming packages wey dem bin buy for kontris wia di service bin dey available. Starlink end am last year while Icasa bin also warn local companies say anybody wey dem catch, wey dey provide di service illegally fit face hefty fine. Yet wit an estimated 20% of South Africans not having access to di internet at all - many in rural areas - e fit dey beneficial for both Starlink and di goment to reach a compromise. For Starlink e fit bring more market, while satellite broadband fit help di goment achieve dia goal of providing universal internet access by 2030. Report say Musk order shutdown of Starlink satellite service for Russia-Ukraine war A Reuters report say during a pivotal push by Ukraine to retake territory from Russia for late September 2022, Elon Musk bin give order wey disturb di counteroffensive and reduce Kyiv trust for Starlink. 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