Virgin Atlantic is the British airline owned by Richard Branson's Virgin Group (51%) and Singapore Airlines (49%). It operates between the United Kingdom and North America, the Caribbean, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia from its main bases at London Heathrow and London Gatwick.

Richard Branson was earlier associated with music records business and used to run a company called Virgin Records. Richard decided to come in airlines business in 1984. He bought British Atlantic Airways and the new airlines began its operations on June 22, 1984. The inaugural flight was between London Gatwick and Newark. Virgin Atlantic brought forth new standards of onboard service and became the first airline to offer individual TVs to their business class passengers.

In 1992, Richard Branson after selling the Virgin Music invested the proceeds into Virgin Atlantic. In the same year Virgin Atlantic launched the first super economy service that went on to become award winning Premium Economy. In 1999, Richard Branson sold a 49% stake in the company to Singapore Airlines. In September 2007 Virgin Atlantic won Airline of the Year - Business at the Travel Trade Gazette Awards.