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Virgin Atlantic flight attendants celebrate 40th anniversary in Las Vegas – with very special guest
The airline is celebrating its 40th birthday in Las Vegas as following new direct flights
VIRGIN Atlantic boss Sir Richard Branson crashed a very special wedding in Las Vegas yesterday - stepping in to surprise two Virgin Atlantic crew members renewing their vows at the legendary Little White Wedding Chapel.
Malcolm and Jacqui King-McKinnon, who met 40 years ago while flying with Virgin in its first ever year operating, jetted to the US party city to celebrate their milestone - and the 40th anniversary of Virgin Atlantic itself.
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The couple from the Wirral were halfway through their vow renewal - officiated by an Elvis impersonator - when Sir Richard stepped in to complete the ceremony in a bling red blazer and boutonniere.
The loved-up couple donned white to take their vows, with Jacqui wearing the tiara from her wedding as well as clutching flowers from her original wedding bouquet.
Their daughters Nimah, 19, and Freya, 21, were there to witness the surprise, sitting in the front row, as well as fellow cabin crew.
The couple departed the chapel - where Ben Affleck and Jenifer Lopez wed in 2022 - in a classic London cab through its famous Tunnel of Love drive-thru wedding venue.
Malcolm and Jaqui met when they flew together on a Virgin flight in 1984.
Malcom offered to help her with her luggage after spotting her in her Virgin red uniform and vowed to take every flight he could with her from then on.
And 40 years later - having raised a family - they still fly together and were both Service Managers on the airline’s re-launched route from Manchester to Las Vegas last Sunday.
Malcolm said: “They call it love at first sight but for Jacqui and I it was love at first flight! Today has been incredible and means so much to Jacqui, our daughters, and myself.
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“Virgin Atlantic brought us together and has given us opportunities to explore the world and create countless memories.
"We look forward to continuing the celebrations and for many more years together in the skies and beyond.”
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Jacqui added: “Today was amazing. I couldn’t believe it when Richard appeared at my shoulder.
"We were so focused on our vows and what Elvis was saying - and then the next thing, there he was!”
The couple continued their celebrations with a special stay in the honeymoon suite at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas and got one extra surprise from Sir Richard at their ceremony - a ‘honeymoon’ cruise with Virgin Voyages later this year.
Sir Richard Branson said: “Getting to celebrate two of those people who have been with us since day one was an honour.
"Malcolm and Jacqui’s love story started at Virgin Atlantic, which makes them part of the family.”
Virgin Atlantic pulled out all the stops to mark its 40th birthday - celebrating in Las Vegas as the airline re-starts direct flights from Manchester to the party capital of Nevada.
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But the Virgin journey began on June 22, 1984 when Virgin Atlantic’s first flight flew from Gatwick to Newark, New Jersey in a second-hand 747.
Tickets cost just £99 and pitted Sir Richard Branson up against established giants of the air including Pan Am, TWA and British Airways.
This month, some 21million glasses of champagne, 7,000 crew and five uniform designs later, the airline celebrates its Ruby anniversary.
And it has changed the face of flying with a host of industry firsts - from the first-ever seat-back TVs to the invention of the Premium Economy cabin and even the original bar in the sky.
Speaking exclusively to The Sun, Sir Richard said: “When starting Virgin Atlantic 40 years ago, I went against everyone’s advice. Friends, experts, the press, the pundits - and on paper they were right.
“Back then, travelling by plane wasn’t a fun experience but airlines were allowed to get away with it as there wasn’t any real competition.
“I love a challenge and the result was our ruby red airline that shook up aviation. Since then, there have been many occasions where people told us we would fail.
"But we kept to the same belief I had in 1984 - if you can create something that’s much better than what everyone else is offering, then you have at least a chance of succeeding.
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“I have had a lot of pinch me moments at Virgin and hopefully that will continue.
“I am very proud of where Virgin Atlantic is today and proud of the team. Every year Virgin innovates, we must never sit on our laurels."
Virgin's new flights
VIRGIN Atlantic is to launch flights to Toronto in Canada from March next year.
The new route - the only Canadian city in the Virgin Atlantic network and the first new route to the country in more than a decade - was announced at the airline’s 40th birthday celebrations in Las Vegas on Monday.
Direct flights from Heathrow to Toronto Pearson International Airport will launch on March 30, 2025 with fares starting from £490per person.
Flights will operate in a mix of aircraft including the A330-900neo, the latest addition to Virgin’s fleet.
The airline also announced a new codeshare partnership with Canadian carrier WestJet, set to kick off in October this year. It will allow customers to travel seamlessly throughout the region, including flights from Ottawa and Winnipeg.