British Airways may be the official airline of the England 2018 World Cup bid, but it was Virgin Atlantic – official airline of the England football team for this month’s FIFA World Cup in South Africa – who flew the England players to Johannesburg yesterday.
A Virgin Atlantic Airbus A340-600 carried the England manager Fabio Capello, his 23-man squad and the key support team in the Upper Class Suite.
British Airways – further industrial action by cabin staff permitting – is preparing to take more than 2.5 million customers to Africa during the World Cup.
Dedicated aircraft painted with black and white football nose cones will operate on some of the flights.
British Airways customers flying to Africa during June and July can also look forward to onboard meals of English favourites such as chicken tikka masala, whiskey cured salmon with Grimsby potted shrimps, medallion of beef, and Eton Mess with strawberry compote.
Meanwhile, the current five-day strike by British Airways cabin crew has entered its final day, but a third wave of walkouts is due to start again from Saturday.
With no sign of a breakthrough between BA bosses and the leaders of the Unite union, the union has also threatened to ballot for more strikes in July.
