Delta Air Lines has closed its deal to purchase 49% of the financially troubled Virgin Atlantic, which is expected to help return the airline to profitability within the next three years. 
The measures could see Virgin Atlantic pull out of a number of loss-making destinations but its flights to SA will not be at risk, says Bonita Boni, Marketing and Communications Executive for South Africa. “Virgin Atlantic has operated successfully out of South Africa for 17 years. None of South Africa’s routes are at risk of being scrapped.”
Delta and Virgin acquired merger clearance from both the EU Commission and the US Department of Justice in June, after which the airlines announced a codeshare and frequent flyer partnership from July 3.