NEWS SPECIAL REPORT


Corneel Koster


Back to the Far East V


Virgin Atlantic believes new Seoul route will succeed despite airspace challenges. By Nick Boulos Covering all aspects of the


irgin Atlantic chief executive Corneel Koster believes the airline’s new route to Seoul will be


a “big success” despite outlining the challenges of recommencing operations in East Asia. Since the carrier scrapped its


Shanghai service in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, a number of geopolitical pressures have developed – including Russia’s ban on UK airlines from its airspace. “It’s not a level playing field,” said


Koster, speaking to Travel Weekly in the South Korean capital. “Asian and Middle Eastern airlines


operate over Russia but European carriers cannot and we don’t expect that to change any time soon.” Rerouting to the south to avoid


airspace that was once freely open has increased journey times by two to three hours, with a knock-on effect on costs. Inbound services from Incheon


International Airport to Heathrow are nudging 14 hours in the air compared with 11-12 hours on a course over northern China and Siberia that was routine prior to the restrictions. “It’s not for us to say whether


changes should be made to that policy,” said Koster. “Of course, flying over Russia would be shorter, so that would be good news, but we’ll leave it to the UK government to determine whether it’s appropriate.”


10 23 APRIL 2026 Despite the challenges, Koster


– who took over the role from Shai Weiss in January – remains bullish about Seoul becoming a long-term addition to the network, with load factors of more than 80% during the route’s first month. “We’re confident, even flying


around Russia, that this route will be a big success,” he said.


Focus on growth The daily service forms part of Virgin Atlantic’s larger plan, which spans the next five years and beyond.


business, the plan was presented to airline founder Sir Richard Branson during Koster’s recent visit to the billionaire’s Caribbean base in the British Virgin Islands. Koster’s primary focus remains


firmly fixed on growth – an objective he plans to achieve by strengthening partnerships, stabilising the network, improving financially to progress towards sustainable profitability, and embracing technology to modernise systems in a bid to operate more efficiently.


“We’re very focused on this year


and our immediate plans, but we’re also looking ahead to the future,” Koster said. “We’ll work hard to execute our strategy, but at the same time we’ll move fast, be nimble and roll with the punches.” Russia’s ban on UK airlines from


its airspace was introduced in 2022 in response to Boris Johnson’s decision to bar Russian carrier Aeroflot from landing in the UK. The then-prime minister’s decision formed part of the sanctions imposed after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.


AGENTS’ FEEDBACK TO INFORM RETAIL STRATEGY


Virgin Atlantic’s chief commercial officer has pledged to bring the views and concerns of agents into the heart of the airline’s decision-making. Dave Geer (pictured), who was promoted to the


role by new chief executive Corneel Koster, said there is “a lot happening in terms of modernising our systems and our approach when it comes to retail and selling to customers”. “It’s a long journey, but my philosophy


is to do it in a trade-friendly way and actually listen to the trade and our industry partners,” he said. He recently hosted a lunch with agents


to connect with them on a “more personal level” and hear their thoughts directly. “I met with some of our leisure agents


because I wanted to get feedback from them and their views and ideas as to how we can work together in the best way possible,” he added. In terms of supporting agents with product and


destinations, Geer said he is committed to premium leisure routes, which saw the launch of services to the Maldives in 2024 and the reintroduction of direct flights to Cancun last October. This winter season will see the airline


commence a thrice-weekly service from Heathrow to Phuket, offering the only direct connection from the UK to the popular Thai island. “Doing this gradually and building demand and making sure that we raise awareness is important,” said Geer.


travelweekly.co.uk


PICTURES: Adam Gerrard


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