Virgin reveals brand for new domestic services

By Phil Davies 

Virgin Atlantic’s new UK domestic services will operate under the name Little Red.

Flights start on March 31 from Manchester with three flights a day to Heathrow followed by six a day from Edinburgh on April 5 and three a day from Aberdeen on April 9.

Services will operate to Heathrow Terminal 1 with bus transfers to connect with Virgin Atlantic long-haul routes to long-haul destinations from Terminal 3.

Fares start at £99 as Virgin seeks to compete head-to-head with rival British Airways on UK routes for the first time.

Virgin won key take-off and landing slots at Heathrow after Bmi was taken over by BA parent International Airlines Group and willI  use leased Aer Lingus aircraft.

BA runs around 52 daily flights between Heathrow and Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow together with services to Scotland from Gatwick and London City airports.

Virgin founder Sir Richard Branson said that Little Red will "go head-to-head with BA to provide domestic flights that deliver Virgin Atlantic's rock and roll spirit as well as real value for money."