Virgin Atlantic Appoints Corneel Koster As Ceo, Succeeding Shai Weiss To Lead Airline Into New Era Of Innovation

Published on October 13, 2025

Virgin Atlantic has coming announced its activity modulation scheme for nan airline’s Chief Executive Officer, Shai Weiss, who will time off agency astatine nan extremity of 2025 aft 7 successful years. Corneel Koster, presently nan airline’s Chief Customer and Operating Officer, will win arsenic CEO connected January 1, 2026, opening a caller era for nan hose arsenic it expands and innovates successful nan world aviation sector.

Koster, who returned to Virgin Atlantic successful 2019, has served successful various roles successful nan company, specified arsenic Board Member and Chief Customer Officer. His acquisition has played a important domiciled successful nan airline’s operations occurrence and customer-centric activities, peculiarly successful nan post-pandemic era. Having a moving life of 30 years successful aviation, Koster has a rich | acquisition from past elder positions astatine Delta Air Lines, Aeroméxico, and KLM, and has demonstrated an outstanding dedication to starring Virgin Atlantic done 1 of nan astir turbulent times successful aviation history.

Shai Weiss’s Legacy: Reshaping Virgin Atlantic During Challenging Times

Shai Weiss’s activity astatine Virgin Atlantic has been marked by transformation, from guiding nan hose done nan COVID-19 pandemic to starring it toward record capacity successful 2024. Under his guidance, nan hose successfully returned to profitability, redefined customer satisfaction crossed nan Atlantic, and earned a Five-Star rating from nan Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX).

Weiss’s tenure besides saw Virgin Atlantic named arsenic nan No.1 Most Loved Workplace by Newsweek, a testament to his expertise to foster a beardown and supportive civilization wrong nan company. Through his leadership, Virgin Atlantic became known not only for its award-winning service but besides for innovating wrong nan aviation industry, laying a beardown instauration for early success. As he prepares to leave, Weiss reflects pinch pridefulness connected nan airline’s evolution, having helped toggle shape it into a premium emblem carrier poised for continued growth.

Corneel Koster: A Visionary Leader pinch a Passion for Customer Experience

Corneel Koster’s assignment arsenic CEO signals a continuation of Virgin Atlantic’s commitment to customer excellence and innovative recreation solutions. Koster’s passion for delivering world-class customer experiences has been a cornerstone of his career. During his clip astatine Virgin Atlantic, he has played a pivotal domiciled successful starring nan preamble of nan A330neo aircraft, overseeing digital transformations, and ensuring that nan hose maintained operational efficiency passim challenging times.

In his caller domiciled arsenic CEO, Koster is wished to proceed nan activity of Shai Weiss, taking Virgin Atlantic into nan early by strengthening its position arsenic a premium, customer-centric airline. His imagination includes enhancing nan airline’s global reach, service offerings, and maintaining its challenger spirit, which has been a hallmark of Virgin Atlantic’s success since its inception.

A Strong Legacy and a Promising Future for Virgin Atlantic

Sir Richard Branson, Founder of Virgin Atlantic, expressed his gratitude for Shai Weiss’s outstanding leadership, commending his domiciled successful starring nan hose done tumultuous times and helping it look stronger than ever. Branson stated, “Shai has done an outstanding job complete nan past 7 years. I’m grateful for his vision, passion, and committedness to creating superb experiences that person made nan hose stronger and raised nan barroom crossed nan industry.” He besides welcomed Corneel Koster arsenic nan caller CEO, noting that he embodies nan Virgin spirit — bold, curious, and fresh to shake up nan position quo.

Peter Norris, Chair of Virgin Atlantic, echoed these sentiments, praising Shai Weiss for his singular activity done exceptional headwinds, peculiarly nan pandemic. Norris noted, “While we’re sad he’s decided to guidelines down, Shai has done an fantabulous occupation starring from nan beforehand successful work of our people, customers, and nan communities successful which we operate, mounting Virgin Atlantic connected a clear way towards future success.” Norris expressed assurance that Koster’s activity would return nan hose to caller heights.

A Strong Partnership pinch Delta Air Lines and Future Collaborations

In a show of support, Ed Bastian, CEO of Delta Air Lines, which is simply a cardinal partner successful nan airline’s transatlantic associated venture, besides praised Shai Weiss for his leadership. “Shai has been a valued partner and bully friend to Delta arsenic we worked broadside by broadside complete nan years to build nan starring trans-Atlantic associated venture. On behalf of nan 100,000 Delta group worldwide, I want to convey him for his leadership, his friendship, and his committedness to our values of ever putting group first,” said Bastian.

Looking ahead, Bastian expressed excitement astir continuing nan beardown narration pinch Virgin Atlantic nether Corneel Koster’s leadership arsenic some companies activity to transform nan recreation experience for customers globally.

Shai Weiss’s Farewell and Koster’s Vision for nan Future

As Shai Weiss prepares to time off Virgin Atlantic, he shares a heartfelt connection for his successor: “I want to congratulate Corneel Koster connected his appointment, which is truthful good deserved. I tin deliberation of nary 1 amended to return complete arsenic he knows what it takes to thrust Virgin Atlantic to nan adjacent level. He’ll proceed to innovate for our group and our guests, making them grin each measurement of nan way.”

Koster, successful his statement, expressed his excitement astir stepping into nan domiciled of CEO. “I’ve agelong held a very typical spot successful my bosom for Virgin Atlantic, truthful it’s an unthinkable privilege to return up nan domiciled of CEO. We’ve ever done everything successful our powerfulness to springiness our customers and our group nan champion acquisition successful nan skies, delivered pinch a grin and nan typical challenger spirit that Richard instilled successful america from time one. I’m wished we transportation that tone forward.”

Koster’s activity will beryllium captious successful shaping Virgin Atlantic’s future arsenic it continues to redefine nan aviation industry, combining exceptional service, innovation, and a beardown committedness to customer satisfaction. He intends to build connected nan strong foundation laid by Shai Weiss, taking nan hose to new heights of success.

A New Chapter for Virgin Atlantic

As Corneel Koster takes complete arsenic CEO, Virgin Atlantic embarks connected a caller section successful its agelong history. With its rich | practice of innovation, customer excellence and overcoming adversity, nan hose is group to proceed pushing nan boundaries of world aviation. Under Koster’s stewardship and that of Virgin Atlantic’s committed team, nan hose is group to flooded caller challenges, turn its marketplace scope and beforehand its intent of being nan world’s astir loved recreation company.

Image Source: Virgin Atlantic