Virgin Atlantic founder Richard Branson led a celebration Friday at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport for his airline’s impending launch of service to Atlanta.

Virgin Atlantic marked the occasion by bringing its first Boeing 787 Dreamliner to Atlanta for a celebration flight.

However, the new Virgin Atlantic service that starts Sunday will be on an Airbus A330 between Atlanta and London Heathrow. The daily flights are part of a joint venture with Delta Air Lines.

Hartsfield-Jackson general manager Miguel Southwell said Virgin Atlantic is the first carrier to take advantage of the airport’s new flight incentive program. He said the airport will waive Virgin Atlantic’s landing fees for the first year, which could be worth more than $600,000 a year.

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Delta Air Lines' first A321neo arrived in Atlanta on March 25, 2022. (Courtesy of Delta Air Lines)

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Carleigh Knight (left) and her sister, Natalie Rogovin, look at Christmas ornaments while shopping at Kudzu Antiques + Modern in Decatur on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025. (Natrice Miller/AJC)

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