Virgin Atlantic Cargo launches San Juan service

On November 24, Virgin Atlantic Cargo is launching a new cargo service from London Heathrow to San Juan in Puerto Rico .

The service is the carrier’s first cargo operation in Puerto Rico and it will run twice a week using a Boeing 787-9 aircraft.

Goods carried on the “fast, efficient cargo service” is expected to be pharmaceuticals, medical devices and electronic devices.

Dominic Kennedy, managing director at Virgin Atlantic Cargo, said: “We are delighted to welcome San Juan to our network, and we are excited about the new growth opportunities this presents for our customers. Over 11m kg of cargo move between Puerto Rico and Europe each month and we are confident Virgin Atlantic Cargo will gain a healthy share of this market.”

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In addition, in response to the “rapidly changing external environment” — namely a drop in passenger demand and significant increase in cargo demand due to the pandemic — Virgin Atlantic Cargo said that it is set to fly more than 800 destinations in November, of which almost 60% are for cargo operations.

This month the carrier increased its capacity to Shanghai, Hong Kong and to the US.

It also updated some services to the following: LHR-JFK service to operate three times daily; LAX service to include an additional flight, bringing the weekly total to 10; LHR-HKG service increase to 10 flights a week; LHR-NB service to increase to six rotations per week.

The carrier is continuing to operate its global charter service and has operated more than 330 charter flights since March.

Kennedy added: “Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, Virgin Atlantic Cargo has played a vital role keeping global supply chains running and transporting essential goods around the world. We are continually innovating, bringing in new destinations in line with demand to expand our cargo only offering.”

Virgin Atlantic Cargo recently launched a new pharma service ahead of the launch of a new Covid-19 vaccine.

The airline said its new Pharma Secure service will cater for urgent, valuable and vulnerable pharmaceutical and life sciences shipments.