Virgin Atlantic Names Newest Aircraft In Honor of Queen Elizabeth II

In honor of the late Queen Elizabeth II, Virgin Atlantic has given its newest aircraft, an Airbus A330neo, the name Queen of the Skies.

In honor of the king, the plane will also get the registration G-VEII.

Beginning in April, the aircraft will operate flights between Heathrow and places like Miami, New York, and Tampa.

This is the second time a Virgin Atlantic plane has been referred to as Queen of the Skies.

During a state visit to France in 2004, her late majesty presented an Airbus A340-600 with the same name at a ceremony in Toulouse.

Virgin Atlantic’s chief customer and operations officer, Cornel Koster, said: “We’re delighted to soon be welcoming Queen of the Skies to our fleet and hope that it serves as a fitting tribute to an unforgettable, much-loved monarch.”

Virgin Atlantic has a long history of naming its aircraft in honor of strong, illustrious women, such as Princess Diana’s name, Diana.

In addition to Queen of the Skies, Lady Emmeline (G-VLIB), which honors Emmeline Pankhurst, the leader of the Suffragette movement and an advocate for women’s rights, is part of Virgin Atlantic’s current fleet.

The airline’s name, Fearless Lady (G-VEVE), honors the memory of Sir Richard Branson’s mother, Eve Branson. During World War II, she joined the Wrens, pretended to be a boy to take flying lessons, and became a trailblazing air hostess for British South American Airways.