Virgin Atlantic: who owns it, who runs it and what the accounts show
Virgin Atlantic Airways Limited's person with significant control on the Companies House register is Virgin Travel Group Limited. In the year to December 2025 Virgin Atlantic Airways Limited reported turnover of £3,370m.
- In the year to December 2025, Virgin Atlantic had turnover of £3,370m, up 2.1% on the year before.
- It made a pre-tax loss of £194m, losing £5.75 of every £100 of sales.
- It employed an average of 8,036 people, with staff costs of £545m.
- Virgin Atlantic Airways Limited is controlled by Virgin Travel Group Limited, according to the Companies House register.
- These figures are from Virgin Atlantic Airways Limited's group accounts for the year to December 2025, filed at Companies House on 10 May 2026.
- Registered name
- VIRGIN ATLANTIC AIRWAYS LIMITED
- Company number
- 01600117
- Status
- Active
- Incorporated
- 26 November 1981
- Registered office area
- Redhill
- Industry code on the register
- 51101: Air transport
- Accounts
- Group accounts, covering the companies it owns
- Accounts type
- Full group accounts
- Latest accounts
- Year to December 2025, filed 10 May 2026
What does Virgin Atlantic do?
Virgin Atlantic is a long-haul airline flying from London Heathrow and Manchester to North America, the Caribbean, Africa, the Middle East and Asia. Its group accounts also cover Virgin Atlantic Cargo, which sells space in the hold of its aircraft, and Virgin Atlantic Holidays, which sells package holidays. These figures are for Virgin Atlantic Airways Limited and its subsidiaries, whose ultimate parent is Virgin Atlantic Limited, owned by the Virgin Group and by Delta Air Lines, which bought its 49% stake in 2013.
In brief: long-haul airline · includes cargo and holidays · London and Manchester · owned by Virgin Group and Delta
Source: Spark Intel editorial, checked 6 November 2026. Official website: virginatlantic.com.
Who owns Virgin Atlantic?
The Companies House register records Virgin Travel Group Limited as the person with significant control of Virgin Atlantic Airways Limited, company number 01600117. Virgin Travel Group Limited is itself company number 02274332.
That places Virgin Atlantic Airways Limited inside a larger group. Its accounts are group accounts, covering the companies it owns as well.
The full ownership record is on the Companies House register. Control is given in the bands the register uses, not as exact shareholdings.
Who runs Virgin Atlantic?
The Companies House register lists 12 current officers for Virgin Atlantic Airways Limited.
All 12 current officers
| Officer | Appointed |
|---|---|
| Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson | |
| Edward Herman Bastian | 24 June 2013 |
| Cornelis Johan Albert Koster | 1 August 2017 |
| Juha Tapio Jaervinen | 1 July 2019 |
| Luigi Brambilla | 20 January 2021 |
| Alain Bellemare | 11 February 2021 |
| Peter William Carter | 6 May 2022 |
| Joshua Bayliss | 31 December 2024 |
| Hirad Horoufchin | 31 December 2024 |
| Kelly Bristoll | 1 April 2026 |
| Richard Matthew McCord | 15 October 2026 |
| Klaus Walter Willi Heinemann | 15 October 2026 |
Every current officer, with appointment dates, is on the Companies House register.
What did Virgin Atlantic file?
Virgin Atlantic Airways Limited reported turnover of £3,370m in the year to December 2025. That was up 2.1% on £3,301m the year before.
It reported 8,036 employees. The year before it reported 7,629.
It filed a pre-tax loss of £194m for the year, against a pre-tax loss of £79m the year before.
Staff costs came to £545m. That is an average of £68,000 a head. It ended the year with £429m at the bank and net liabilities of £1,253m.
| Measure | Dec 2025 | Dec 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Turnover | £3,370m | £3,301m |
| Pre-tax profit | -£194m (filed) | -£79m (filed) |
| Employees | 8,036 | 7,629 |
| Staff costs | £545m | £484m |
| Average staff cost per head | £68,000 | £63,000 |
| Bank and cash | £429m | £443m |
| Net assets | -£1,253m | -£1,280m |
| Interest paid | £341m | |
| Interest received | £24m | |
| Directors' pay | £13m |
Read the accounts to December 2025 (PDF, Companies House) · every accounts filing
What do these figures mean? Turnover vs profit · Profit per £100 · Cash vs profit · Net assets · Group accounts
Are there any charges against Virgin Atlantic?
Virgin Atlantic Airways Limited has registered 77 charges at Companies House, of which 43 are still outstanding. A charge is security a lender takes over a company's assets; one is satisfied when the lending behind it is repaid or released.
All 43 outstanding charges
| Charge holder | Created |
|---|---|
| Umb Bank, N.A., Not in Its Individual Capacity but Solely as Security Trustee | 15 December 2025 |
| Pk Airfinance Us, L.P., with Its Registered Office at C/O Corporation Service Company, 251 Little Falls Drive, Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware 19808, United States of America | 12 December 2025 |
| Pk Airfinance Us, L.P., with Its Registered Office at C/O Corporation Service Company, 251 Little Falls Drive, Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware 19808, United States of America | 12 December 2025 |
| Citibank, N.A., London Branch, Not in Its Individual Capacity but Solely as Security Trustee | 8 December 2025 |
| Intertrust Trustees Limited | 20 November 2025 |
| Umb Bank, N.A. | 30 September 2025 |
| Avolon Aerospace Aoe 147 Limited | 15 July 2025 |
| Umb Bank, N.A., | 23 December 2024 |
| Umb Bank, N.A. | 23 December 2024 |
| Umb Bank, N.A. | 23 December 2024 |
| Umb Bank, N.A. | 23 December 2024 |
| Umb Bank, N.A. | 23 December 2024 |
| Umb Bank, N.A. | 23 December 2024 |
| Umb Bank, N.A. | 23 December 2024 |
| Umb Bank, N.A. | 23 December 2024 |
| Umb Bank, N.A. | 23 December 2024 |
| Volofin Holdings D.A.C. as Security Trustee | 25 September 2024 |
| Pk Airfinance S.À R.L. with Its Registered Office at 3RD Floor, Le Dome, 2 Avenue Charles De Gaulle, L-1653 Luxembourg | 30 August 2024 |
| Pk Airfinance S.À R.L. with Its Registered Office at 3RD Floor, Le Dome, 2 Avenue Charles De Gaulle, L-1653 Luxembourg | 30 August 2024 |
| Pk Airfinance S.À R.L. with Its Registered Office at 3RD Floor, Le Dome, 2 Avenue Charles De Gaulle, L-1653 Luxembourg | 30 August 2024 |
| Pk Airfinance S.À R.L - with Its Registered Office at 3RD Floor, Le Dome, 2 Avenue Charles De Gaulle, L-1653 Luxembourg | 30 August 2024 |
| Bank of Utah, Not in Its Individual Capacity but Solely as Security Trustee | 30 May 2024 |
| Bank of Utah | 30 May 2024 |
| Aviator V 1341, Designated Activity Company | 24 November 2023 |
| Pk Airfinance S.À R.L. with Its Registered Office at 3RD Floor, Le Dome, 2 Avenue Charles De Gaulle, L-1653 Luxembourg | 11 July 2023 |
| Pk Airfinance S.À R.L. with Its Registered Office at 3RD Floor, Le Dome, 2 Avenue Charles De Gaulle, L-1653 Luxembourg | 11 July 2023 |
| Pk Airfinance S.À R.L - with Its Registered Office at 3RD Floor, Le Dome, 2 Avenue Charles De Gaulle, L-1653 Luxembourg | 11 July 2023 |
| Pk Airfinance S.À R.L. with Its Registered Office at 3RD Floor, Le Dome, 2 Avenue Charles De Gaulle, L-1653 Luxembourg | 11 July 2023 |
| Sasof V (A3) Aviation Ireland Designated Activity Company | 9 January 2023 |
| Wilmington Trust Sp Services (Dublin) Limited Not in Its Individual Capacity but Solely as Owner Trustee | 12 October 2021 |
| Lloyds Bank PLC | 8 October 2021 |
| Lloyds Bank Corporate Markets PLC | 8 October 2021 |
| Wilmington Trust Sp Services (Dublin) Limited | 31 August 2021 |
| Wilmington Trust Sp Services (Dublin) Limited | 31 August 2021 |
| Maples Owner Trustees Ireland Limited | 18 January 2021 |
| Maples Owner Trustees Ireland Limited | 12 January 2021 |
| Glas Trust Corporation Limited as Security Trustee | 8 December 2020 |
| Lucid Trustee Services Limited | 16 September 2020 |
| Lucid Trustee Services Limited | 16 September 2020 |
| Glas Trust Corporation Limited as Security Trustee | 10 September 2020 |
| Glas Trust Corporation Limited as Security Agent | 10 September 2020 |
| Glas Trust Corporation Limited as Security Agent | 8 September 2020 |
| Glas Trust Corporation Limited as Security Trustee | 8 September 2020 |
Each charge, with its holder and dates, is on the Companies House register.
How Virgin Atlantic compares
Of the 8 UK airlines, Virgin Atlantic is 5th on turnover, 7th on profit margin and 6th on growth. British Airways keeps the most of every £100 of sales: £16.55.
| Rank | UK airlines | Turnover | Profit per £100 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | British Airways | £14,679m | £16.55 |
| 5th | Virgin Atlantic | £3,370m | −£5.75 |
| + 6 more UK airlines ranked |
Ranked by turnover. Profit per £100 is pre-tax profit for every £100 of turnover, shown only where the profit is filed.
Virgin Atlantic files as Virgin Atlantic Airways Limited, whose person with significant control is Virgin Travel Group Limited, with turnover of £3,370m in its latest filed year.
Questions about Virgin Atlantic
What does Virgin Atlantic do?
Virgin Atlantic is a long-haul airline flying from London Heathrow and Manchester to North America, the Caribbean, Africa, the Middle East and Asia. Its group accounts also cover Virgin Atlantic Cargo, which sells space in the hold of its aircraft, and Virgin Atlantic Holidays, which sells package holidays. These figures are for Virgin Atlantic Airways Limited and its subsidiaries, whose ultimate parent is Virgin Atlantic Limited, owned by the Virgin Group and by Delta Air Lines, which bought its 49% stake in 2013.
Is Virgin Atlantic bigger than British Airways?
No, by turnover. Virgin Atlantic reported £3,370m in its latest accounts, against £14,679m at British Airways. Our British Airways v Virgin Atlantic page compares the two on profit, margin, growth and staff. British Airways v Virgin Atlantic →
How does Virgin Atlantic compare with its rivals?
By turnover, Virgin Atlantic is 5th of the 8 companies in our battle of the UK airlines, behind British Airways. The battle ranks them on turnover, pre-tax profit, margin, growth and net assets. The battle of the UK airlines →
Who owns Virgin Atlantic?
The Companies House register records Virgin Travel Group Limited as the person with significant control of Virgin Atlantic Airways Limited.
How much does Virgin Atlantic make?
Virgin Atlantic Airways Limited reported turnover of £3,370m in the year to December 2025. It filed a pre-tax loss of £194m.
How many people work at Virgin Atlantic?
Virgin Atlantic Airways Limited reported 8,036 employees in the year to December 2025.
Who runs Virgin Atlantic?
The Companies House register lists 12 current officers for Virgin Atlantic Airways Limited. The full list, with appointment dates, is on the Companies House register.
- Figures come from Virgin Atlantic Airways Limited's filings at Companies House, company number 01600117, for the period shown at the top of the page.
- These are group accounts: they include the companies it owns.
- Pre-tax profit is the figure the company filed, for both years.
- A figure the filing does not disclose is shown as n/d. A zero in the filing is treated as not disclosed, never as nil.
- Rounding: below £0.1m in thousands, from £0.1m to £2m to one decimal place, from £2m to the nearest million.
- Ownership is shown in the control bands the register of people with significant control uses, not as exact shareholdings.
- Officers' names and appointment dates come from the Companies House register. Job titles come from the company's own website. The description of what the company does comes from its website, or is marked Spark Intel editorial where it is written from stable, checked facts, with the date either way.
Spark Intel, “Virgin Atlantic: who owns it, who runs it and what the accounts show”, updated 6 November 2026. https://www.spark-intel.co.uk/companies/virgin-atlantic/. Figures from Companies House filings for VIRGIN ATLANTIC AIRWAYS LIMITED (01600117).
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