This weekend, Virgin Atlantic will cut over to its new
passenger services system, based on joint-venture partner Delta Air Lines'
in-house AIR4 technology.
The switch will cause some interruption to Virgin Atlantic's
operations. Transactions will end on Virgin Atlantic direct channels at 1:30 p.m.
Greenwich Mean Time on Saturday, shortly after which check-in kiosks at
London's Heathrow Airport and bookings through global distribution systems will
be unavailable. During that period, travelers will not be able to book or
change Virgin Atlantic reservations through the carrier's website, mobile app
and customer service line nor through travel agents. The new system will be
running by 5 a.m. GMT on Sunday, according to Virgin Atlantic.
The switchover will have no impact on Delta systems,
according to Delta.
Virgin Atlantic has reduced its flight schedule this weekend
to accommodate the switch, and travelers checking in can do so through Delta's
website. Additionally, Virgin Atlantic is increasing staffing at airports and
its customer service center.
Earlier this year, Delta CEO Ed Bastian said the switchover
would mark the first time two carriers had international operations using the same
passenger service system and that it would allow the two carriers to have a
more seamless partnership. The new system is "fully distinct from Delta's
passenger service system, but there will be close alignment to allow [Virgin
Atlantic] to benefit in full from Delta's extensive development pipeline,"
according to a Virgin Atlantic spokesperson.
Following
the cutover, there could be lingering limitations to booking and check-in
functions, Virgin Atlantic said, although it has "conducted robust
end-to-end testing of AIR4" to make it go smoothly.