UK long-haul carrier Virgin Atlantic has formally joined the SkyTeam alliance. The move means Virgin Atlantic becomes SkyTeam's only UK member airline, enhancing the alliance's transatlantic network and services to and from Heathrow and Manchester airports, the carrier says. With this, customers can conveniently book every SkyTeam member flight on a single ticket, checking in with baggage just once through to their destination. "Virgin Atlantic's entry into the alliance builds upon the success of its transatlantic joint venture with Delta and Air France-KLM, each already long-established SkyTeam members," it adds. In association with Delta and Air France-KLM, Virgin Atlantic currently operates to 12 American destinations. Last year, the airline launched services to two new USA destinations, Austin and Tampa. The airline is planning a new service to the Maldives from October. Virgin Atlantic also operates an extensive Caribbean portfolio including Antigua, Barbados, Jamaica, The Bahamas and from November, to the Turks and Caicos Islands. Virgin Atlantic also operates services to China, India, Israel, Nigeria and South Africa. Codeshare agreements are already in place with Aeromexico and Middle East Airlines, with options for more codeshares to follow later this year, it notes.

The UK's Competition and Markets Authority has approved Korean Air's acquisition of Asiana, following the flag carrier's offer to co-operate with Virgin Atlantic on services to Heathrow. Korean and Asiana currently offer the only direct services between the UK and South Korea. British Airways withdrew from the market amid the pandemic. "The CMA's approval is evidence that the proposed remedies submitted by the airline have resolved competition restriction concerns," says Korean. "As part of the remediation effort, Korean Air will enter into a co-operative partnership with Virgin Atlantic's operation on the London Heathrow-Seoul Incheon route.” Virgin Atlantic has never before operated to Seoul, and has not yet officially announced the new route. Korean Air is a member of the SkyTeam airline alliance, which Virgin Atlantic is set to join on 2 March. On 28 November, the CMA said it had accepted the proposed remedies proposed by Korean but would consult the market before giving final approval. The transaction now requires approval from regulatory bodies in the EU, Japan and USA, having already received clearance from 11 competition authorities globally, including the UK. European Commission regulators said on 20 February that they would carry out an in-depth investigation into the proposed merger, citing concerns that the deal may reduce competition in both passenger and cargo markets between Europe and South Korea. The two carriers both operate from Seoul Incheon to Paris, Frankfurt, Rome and Barcelona, together commanding a 63% share of the market between Incheon and Europe by number of flights. Korean has said it believes the acquisition will complete this year, despite the delays in securing regulatory approval.

Lufthansa low-cost subsidiary Eurowings is preparing its first Airbus A321 for scheduled service from May. Eurowings says the International Aero Engines V2500-powered twinjet (D-AIDV) – freshly in repainted in the airline’s livery – is the first of six A321ceos joining the carrier’s fleet from Lufthansa. Data lists two additional ex-Lufthansa A321ceos – D-AIDU and D-AEUJ – in storage for deployment at Eurowings. D-AEUJ is powered by CFM International CFM56 engines and was initially delivered to now-defunct Air Berlin. In addition to the A321ceos, Eurowings is scheduled to receive four new A321neos by year-end, as part of a deal for 13 A320neo-family jets, the airline says. It adds the A321s will be configured with around 230 seats – including 16 business seats – and deployed on popular routes to Mediterranean destinations.Lufthansa's operates its A321s in cabin layouts for 200 and 215 passengers, its website indicates. Eurowings and its subsidiaries based in Austria and Malta together have 40 A319ceos, 55 A320ceos, seven A320neos and two Boeing 737-800s. Eurowings Discover, meanwhile, has another nine A320ceos, three A330-200s, nine A330-300s, and two A350s on lease from Finnair.