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Virgin’s CEO concerns over the fuel crisis
Virgin Atlantic CEO Corneel Koster has warned of a jet fuel crisis in interviews with the Telegraph and Financial Times this week. The crisis is being driven by the Middle East conflict, and while the immediate future looks manageable, the CEO has stated that he has little sight of where fuel supplies will come from after the end of May. Many airlines have already started adding fuel surcharges or increasing fares, but Koster indicated that ticket prices could rise by up to £360 to cover the rising costs of fuel. Looking ahead, he anticipates a weakening in economy class demand due to the combination of these increased travel costs and the broader cost-of-living crisis, acknowledging that this could be one of the industry’s toughest periods since the pandemic.
He also warned that high jet fuel prices are “here to stay,” with costs remaining over double pre-conflict levels despite the relatively positive news of the ceasefire. The cost of fuel, along with the Middle East uncertainty as a tourist region and hub, threatens to hinder the airline’s return to profitability this year. The carrier is having discussions with the UK government and Heathrow airport to ensure they can continue their operation with enough fuel certainty.
EasyJet’s CEO had previously said that fuel supplies could be affected as early as the start of May if the conflict does not end this month.
Delta’s new business class suites
Delta’s next-generation business class seat, the Delta One suite, has been unveiled. The new seat will be debuting on the Airbus A350-1000 — Delta’s newest and largest aircraft, arriving early 2027. Additionally, Delta’s Airbus A330-200/300 fleet is getting upgraded with suites featuring privacy doors in the Delta One cabin — a first for the fleet.
“Every time a customer boards a Delta flight, the experience and surroundings should feel familiar — creating a sense of home and comfort when you’re away,” said Mauricio Parise, vice president of Brand Experience. “That was the driving factor behind every intentional design feature and investment we made in developing our brand new A350-1000 experience, which we extended through nose-to-tail upgrades of our A330-200/300s and will continue to roll out across our fleet.”
“Customers are clear that comfort is their number one priority when flying Delta One — 97% say Delta’s flat-bed is the reason for choosing the cabin,” said Parise. “This led us to a new design that, when combined with our current mattress pad and luxury bedding from Missoni, makes for an incomparable sleep at 30,000 feet.”
Delta’s new brand style was revealed in 2025, and received positive feedback and an increase in customer satisfaction scores. I think the new designs look very classy and a step above their competitors, United and AA. The new interior design is being applied to these aircraft and on more than 800 aircraft over the next five years as Delta takes delivery of new aircraft and refreshes its current fleet. The airline anticipates 90% of Delta One seats will be suites with sliding privacy doors by 2030.
The Thompson Aero Seating has a 3+ inch longer flat-bed that gives customers more than six-and-half feet to stretch out, a new pillow-top cushion that adds an extra layer on top of the memory foam cushioned seat and smart stowage options that include a cubby for shoes, a tray within easy reach of the flat bed for your phone and a hook for eyeglasses.
The next-generation Delta One suites on the A350-1000 are arranged in a reverse-herringbone configuration, with the outer rows facing the windows. The suites in the middle of the cabin feature a sliding window that customers can choose to keep open when travelling with a companion or close for privacy.
The A350-1000 suite features a 24-inch cinema-quality screen — Delta’s largest ever, with brighter, sharper images and vibrant colours in high definition. Bluetooth connectivity gives passengers the option to pair their own headphones, while wireless charging is built into a stone inlay on the console, allowing customers to keep multiple devices charged.
Delta is also introducing a dedicated refreshment station for Delta One customers located at the main entryway on the A350-1000 and at the front of the A330-200/300. This is something that AA has always done really well, so it is good to see Delta trying to offer something similar.
Many of these same design elements — including the pillow-top, wireless charging, tactile seat controls, signature feature lamp, in-suite mood lighting and USB-C —are incorporated into the suites being added to Delta’s A330-200/300 aircraft, creating continuity in the Delta One experience across fleets.
Win 1 million Avios
British Airways has a new competition offering two members the chance to win 1 million Avios. The competition is to celebrate significant partnership milestones with Finnair and Loganair and is open until 15 June.
To enter, simply link your accounts through the Transfer Avios page on Avios.com. Link your British Airways Club account with your Finnair or Loganair account, and you’ll be automatically entered into the prize draw. It is not explicitly stated but I’d assumed if you have already done the steps below, you should be entered.
For British Airways Club Members to enter the Prize Draw, you must complete each of the following:
1. Open, or hold a British Airways Club Membership account,
2. Open, or hold a Finnair Plus Membership Account and/or a Loganair Loyalty Membership Account
3. Link your British Airways Club Membership Account to at least one Avios Currency Partner Membership account here
This will give you one prize draw entry. If you unlink your Membership Accounts before the offer end date, you won’t be eligible for the Prize Draw. The customer must be a British Airways Club Account Member at the offer end date too.
