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Delta to launch new route to US
Delta will launch the first service between Heathrow and Portland, Oregon next May.
It will offer four flights a week on the route for the summer, starting on May 26.
At the same time, the US airline will strengthen its partnership with Virgin Atlantic, with the two carriers swapping some of their routes.
Delta will take over Virgin’s Heathrow to Detroit service from March 26 to enable it to offer a twice daily service and from May 25 Delta will take over Virgin’s second daily Heathrow to Atlanta flight.
Virgin will continue to operate one daily Heathrow to Atlanta flight and from March 26 it will take over Delta’s Heathrow to Seattle service.
Virgin will also take over Delta’s Manchester to New York-JFK summer service on May 25. Delta will resume the service for winter 2017.
Virgin executive VP commercial Erik Varwijk said: "We are delighted to further optimise our joint services between the UK and the USA.
"Our most fuel efficient Boeing 787-9 aircraft will add additional capacity to the successful Seattle route, enabling more customers to enjoy the Virgin Atlantic experience on this brand new aircraft.
"In Manchester, deploying our Airbus A330-300 aircraft on this route will allow us to further meet the growing demand from the Manchester market, now offering a total of six direct flights to the US after the recently announced new services to Boston and San Francisco.
"The network changes highlight the strength and flexibility of our joint venture, allowing us to make smart decisions that ensure the right aircraft are on the right routes for our customers."
Dwight James, Delta’s senior VP transatlantic, said: "Adding a brand new service to Portland while increasing the scale of Delta’s reach across our Atlanta and Detroit hubs provides a comprehensive network of nonstop and connecting destinations for both Delta and Virgin customers.
"The flexibility to adjust our operations on routes between the UK and the USA is a solid reflection of the cohesive strategy we have across the transatlantic.
"Since 2014, we have been building a partnership that is centred around the needs of our customers while providing network synergies for our airlines."
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Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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