Virgin Atlantic has announced a major leadership transition at the top of the airline.
After seven years as Chief Executive Officer, Shai Weiss will step down on Dec. 31, 2025. He will be succeeded by Corneel Koster, currently Chief Customer and Operating Officer, who will officially assume the CEO role on Jan. 1, 2026.
Koster, who rejoined the airline in 2019, has played a pivotal role in operations and customer service, leading Virgin Atlantic’s frontline teams and overseeing the introduction of the airline’s A330neo aircraft. His leadership during the pandemic helped ensure the airline emerged stable and profitable, while maintaining its reputation for exceptional customer experience.
Weiss’s tenure as CEO began in 2019, a period that saw the airline navigate the challenges of Covid-19, return to profitability and deliver record performance in 2024. Under his leadership, Virgin Atlantic earned consistent five-star ratings from APEX and was recognized as one of the UK’s most loved workplaces.
In a statement, Founder Sir Richard Branson praised Weiss’s “vision, passion and commitment,” and called Koster “bold, curious and ready to shake up the status quo.” Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian also commended Weiss’s partnership and expressed confidence in Koster as the airline’s next leader.
Koster said it was “an incredible privilege” to step into the CEO role, adding that he intends to carry forward Virgin Atlantic’s challenger spirit while delivering value for customers, employees and communities.
Virgin Atlantic currently operates flights across several key Caribbean gateways, including Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Jamaica, The Bahamas, Grenada, St Lucia and, most recently, Cancun.
Caribbean Journal Staff
2025-10-26 19:02:00