Virgin Atlantic and Kenya Airways have announced an exciting new codeshare partnership agreement, marking a significant step towards providing greater access to Nairobi and beyond into East Africa.

The first phase of the agreement, effective immediately, enables customers booking through Virgin Atlantic to directly purchase flights on Kenya Airways’ Heathrow to Nairobi service. Conversely, Kenya Airways customers will soon gain access to connect via London Heathrow to a selection of Virgin Atlantic’s luxurious Caribbean destinations, including Barbados, The Bahamas, Grenada, St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Juha Jarvinen, Chief Commercial Officer at Virgin Atlantic, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “We’re delighted to launch our partnership with Kenya Airways. As a fellow member of the SkyTeam alliance, we know our customers will enjoy a seamless travel experience, with more opportunities to earn and spend their miles with increased benefits for our SkyPriority members.”

Similarly, Julius Thairu, Chief Commercial and Customer Officer of Kenya Airways emphasized the transformative nature of the partnership, saying, “We are excited to embark on this transformative partnership with Virgin Atlantic. By leveraging our complementary strengths and networks, we aim to enrich the travel experience for our valued customers, offering them greater choice, convenience, and connectivity to key destinations in the world.”

This collaboration not only enhances travel options but also extends benefits to loyal members of both airlines’ loyalty programs. Virgin Atlantic’s Gold and Silver Flying Club members, alongside Kenya Airways Asante Rewards Platinum and Gold members, can take advantage of SkyPriority services at London Heathrow and Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, including priority check-in, baggage handling, and boarding.

Moreover, as fellow members of the SkyTeam alliance, both airlines offer accelerated rewards for Flying Club members. Opportunities to earn Virgin Points and Tier Points, alongside Virgin Points redemptions, have been available since March 2023.

In addition to bolstering travel connectivity, the partnership aligns with the shared sustainability ethos of Virgin Atlantic and Kenya Airways. Both airlines have demonstrated their commitment to sustainability through various initiatives, including fleet transformation towards next-generation aircraft and pioneering sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) flights.

With this new codeshare partnership, access to Kenya from the UK has become more convenient than ever. Starting from January this year, visitors from outside of Africa, including the United Kingdom, will only require an online authorization to travel to Kenya, further facilitating travel between the two regions.