Virgin Atlantic

Starting this weekend, passengers at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson airport will have another option for traveling to Europe. Virgin Atlantic will offer nonstop service to London’s Heathrow Airport.

It’s part of a swap deal with Delta, which owns 49 percent of the British airline. Virgin takes over one of Delta’s daily flights from Atlanta to London. In turn, Delta gets Virgin's Los Angeles to London route.

Virgin Atlantic also had to end service to one of its Asian routes to accommodate an additional flight at Heathrow.

"We have to close one route in order to open another route, which is why we’re pushing extremely hard to get the British government to build an extra runway or two at Heathrow. So, sadly, no pain no gain. But...Atlanta is one of the beneficiaries of us having to take some pain elsewhere," said Virgin's founder, Sir Richard Branson.

The flashy British billionaire spoke at a press conference in Atlanta. He emerged from the back entrance of a new Boeing 787 Dreamliner, as a gospel choir sang "London Calling" by The Clash. (The airline's maiden London to Atlanta flight was a nonstop party, as reported by Britain's Daily Mail.)

Virgin Atlantic says it will also add another Atlanta to London flight next year, as well as service to Manchester. Hartsfield-Jackson will waive more than a half a million dollars in landing fees during Virgin’s first year at the airport. It’s part of a city program to lure more international flights to Atlanta.

Virgin Atlantic estimates it will fly 160,000 passengers to Atlanta every year.

Tags: Bradley George, Richard Branson, Virgin Atlantic, Delta, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport