Virgin Atlantic gives passengers free roaming data in 190 countries
Key Points
- Virgin Atlantic has signed a deal with travel eSIM provider Kolet, giving passengers a free 1GB data allowance valid for 48 hours on arrival in more than 190 countries.
- The eSIM activates through the Virgin Atlantic app, booking confirmation pages and pre-departure emails, with additional data sold at prices varying by country.
- Kolet was founded in 2024 and already runs the same 1GB free-on-arrival offer for Air France-KLM, Hopper, MakeMyTrip, Kiwi.com and Omio.
- Passengers keep their existing UK mobile number and primary SIM active while the Kolet eSIM connects to local networks abroad, removing home-network roaming fees.
- The deal sits alongside Virgin Atlantic's rollout of Starlink low-Earth-orbit satellite WiFi to its fleet, part of a wider connectivity push.
Virgin Atlantic passengers will get a free gigabyte of mobile data on arrival in more than 190 countries under a new partnership with eSIM provider Kolet.
The British airline announced the deal on Tuesday (19 May). Kolet’s service will sit inside the Virgin Atlantic app, booking confirmation pages and pre-departure emails, letting passengers buy and activate a digital eSIM in a few steps before they travel or once they land.
The free 1GB allocation runs for 48 hours, with additional data sold at extra cost that varies by destination.
Kolet, founded in 2024 by Eduardo Ronzano, Anne-Carole Coen and Mehdi Chraibi, runs a B2B2C model that already supplies the same 1GB free-on-arrival deal to Air France-KLM, Kiwi.com, Hopper, Exoticca, MakeMyTrip, Wego and travel platform Omio.
The Virgin Atlantic deal applies the same template to UK long-haul travellers, letting customers connect to local networks without changing SIM cards or paying their UK provider’s roaming fees. Users keep their existing mobile number and primary SIM active while the Kolet profile handles data abroad.
The partnership sits alongside Virgin Atlantic’s onboard connectivity push, including the ongoing rollout of Starlink low-Earth-orbit satellite WiFi across its fleet.
“We’re always looking for ways to make our customers’ journeys smoother and more enjoyable, combining thoughtful innovation with the premium service our customers know and love,” said Bethan Lynch, Vice President of Customer Journeys at Virgin Atlantic.
“Partnering with Kolet is another step in reimagining the connected travel experience, complementing our investment in onboard connectivity, including the rollout of Starlink Wi-Fi, and giving customers seamless, reliable connection in the air and on the ground.”
According to GSMA Intelligence, the majority of smartphones sold globally are expected to become eSIM compatible in the coming years. The technology removes the need for a physical SIM card and lets travellers install a second mobile profile digitally, typically within minutes of landing.
“Connectivity is becoming a natural part of travel, just like e-tickets and mobile boarding passes. Our ambition is to make staying connected abroad effortless for international travellers. Virgin Atlantic has long been recognized for reinventing the travel experience, and we’re proud to contribute to that vision,” said Eduardo Ronzano, Co-founder and CEO at Kolet.
