OREANDA-NEWS. Transaero Airlines launches ticket sales for connecting flights between Moscow and Edinburgh, Manchester, Aberdeen with connection in London as part of an extended code sharing agreement with Virgin Atlantic Airways.

The recent amendment to the code-share agreement from 2012 expands the route network of the airlines' joint operations. Now passengers are able to book tickets under the UN code on connecting flights via London when travelling between Moscow and Boston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Orlando, Johannesburg, Edinburgh, Manchester and Aberdeen. Transaero operates flights between Moscow and London while Virgin Atlantic Airways carries passengers beyond London. The two partner airlines have the right of free ticket sale on each other's code-share flights.

Roman Vdovenko, Deputy Head of Commercial Department for Operations, Transaero Airlines, commented: “We are pleased to see that the cooperation with Virgin Atlantic in terms of our code-sharing agreement continues to strengthen. I am certain that our customers will highly appreciate new travel opportunities. It is worth mentioning that the expansion of our code share agreement coincides with the British-Russian Bilateral Year”.

Virgin Atlantic Director of Network and Alliances, Joe Thompson, said : “We are very pleased to extend our code share agreement with Transaero and to carry their passengers on our Virgin Atlantic Little Red services. This provides seamless connections via London onto three major UK cities. We have enjoyed an excellent relationship with Transaero on our long haul operations and are looking forward to working together further on our short-haul flights.”

Transaero Airlines continues improving its products and services on the flights between Moscow and London. In 2013 Transaero started operating on this route Boeing 737-800 aircraft with Imperial class, a unique first class product of the airline.

Tickets for new joint flights are available at the airline's booking offices, travel agents, as well as via Transaero's call center.

About Transaero AirlinesTransaero Airlines launched its flights in 1991. Transaero is the second largest passenger carrier in Russia. In 2013 it carried 12.5 million passengers. At present, it ranks among the top 30 largest airlines in the world in terms of passenger turnover. Currently, Transaero operates the fleet of 98 aircraft including 20 Boeing 747, 14 Boeing 777, 15 Boeing 767, 44 Boeing 737, 3 Тu-214, 2 Тu-204-100С aircraft. Transaero has the largest fleet of widebody aircraft in Russia, the CIS and Eastern Europe. It is the first carrier in Russia to order the latest generation of aircraft, i.e. Аirbus А380, Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental and Аirbus А320neo aircraft.The overall airline network includes 200 domestic and international routes in Europe, Asia, the Americas and Africa. Transaero is the only transport company to be awarded the top ranking of Corporate Social Responsibility ААА (s).

About Virgin Atlantic AirwaysVirgin Atlantic was founded by entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson 30 years ago after he decided the UK aviation industry needed shaking up and having some style injected back into it. Today, Virgin Atlantic flies to 33 destinations worldwide, including locations across North America, the Caribbean, Africa and the Far East.

In 2013 Virgin Atlantic launched a domestic airline, Little Red. Little Red flies across the UK, with 24 daily flights between Manchester, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and London. Passengers can experience seamless connections onto the airline's long haul routes at Heathrow airport.

In the winter of 2012, Virgin Atlantic announced a joint venture with Delta Air Lines, creating an expanded trans-Atlantic route network and enhancing competition between the UK and North America. The two airlines now codeshare across 108 routes, offering passengers seamless connections to 66 destinations.

Virgin Atlantic has pioneered a range of innovations setting new standards of service, which its competitors have subsequently sought to follow. Recently it redesigned its Upper Class cabin, which included a new seat and a futuristic bar, which is the longest in the sky. Additionally, its entire leisure fleet of aircraft recently competed a ?50 million renovation and includes a newly designed more comfortable seat and a brand new touch screen in-flight entertainment system, offering over 300 hours of the latest films, television shows, music and games.

Virgin Atlantic currently has a fleet of 39 aircraft which includes comprised of Boeing 747s, Airbus A340-600s, A340-300 and A330-300s as well as four leased A320s on Little Red routes. The airline is expecting delivery of 16 Boeing 787 Dreamliners from September 2014.