Virgin Atlantic (VS), one of the UK’s most iconic airlines, has always stood out for its flair, service, and daring marketing. Founded by Sir Richard Branson in 1984, it remains a symbol of British entrepreneurial spirit.
The airline’s story over the last few years, however, has been one of steady resilience rather than glamour. Having battled through the pandemic and rising fuel costs, Virgin Atlantic has managed to claw its way back to profitability under the leadership of Shai Weiss, who has been at the helm since 2019.
In 2024, the carrier recorded its first profit since 2019, reporting a £20 million pre-tax profit and revenues of £3.3 billion. The performance came on the back of strong demand on transatlantic routes, where Virgin Atlantic operates alongside its joint venture partners Delta Air Lines, Air France, and KLM.
Its operational fleet of around 42 aircraft, largely made up of Airbus A330s, A350s, and Boeing 787 Dreamliners, forms the core of a long-haul network connecting London to destinations across North America, the Caribbean, Africa, and Asia.
As the airline continues to stabilise, much attention has turned to the man guiding its comeback and, naturally, to how he’s compensated for the task.
Who is Shai Weiss?
Shai Weiss, originally from Israel, has been with Virgin Atlantic since 2014, starting as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) before being promoted to Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in 2019.
He previously held senior roles at Virgin Media and several investment firms, building his background across finance and management. Educated in both Israel and the United States, he holds an MBA from Columbia Business School.
Within Virgin Atlantic, Weiss is known for his pragmatic leadership and calm temperament, traits that proved vital during the pandemic years when the airline’s survival was in question.
His decision-making was instrumental in securing refinancing deals and driving the restructuring plan that saved thousands of jobs. Weiss is also known for his balanced approach — a mix of financial discipline and the brand’s characteristic optimism.
Virgin Atlantic CEO Shai Weiss’ Salary in 2025
As of the most recent disclosures, Shai Weiss’s base salary remains around £700,000 per year, consistent with his reported compensation since 2022. His performance-based bonus potential can reach up to £1.05 million, depending on how the airline performs financially and operationally.
Virgin Atlantic has not yet released a detailed remuneration report for the 2025 financial year. However, considering the airline’s return to profitability in 2024 and its positive earnings outlook, it’s expected that Weiss’s bonus component will have been partly or fully activated.
Based on comparable pay structures from previous years, his total estimated remuneration for 2025 likely falls between £1.2 million and £1.4 million, assuming moderate incentive payouts.
His package includes standard executive benefits such as health insurance, company car allowance, travel privileges, and participation in Virgin Group’s long-term incentive plan. Unlike some of his peers in low-cost or larger network airlines, Weiss’s compensation structure is heavily tied to long-term profitability rather than short-term stock bonuses.
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Peer Comparisons: British Airways and easyJet
To understand Weiss’s compensation in context, it’s worth looking at two of his UK-based counterparts: Sean Doyle, CEO of British Airways, and Kenton Jarvis, CEO of easyJet.
Sean Doyle (British Airways) reportedly earned around £1.4 million in total remuneration in 2024, including a base salary of about £670,000 and bonus incentives.
BA’s size, being part of the International Airlines Group (IAG), naturally justifies a larger total pay envelope. The group’s profitability and global scale are also far higher than Virgin Atlantic’s.
Kenton Jarvis (easyJet), who assumed the CEO position in January 2025, earns a base salary of £800,000, with performance bonuses and share-based incentives tied to the airline’s financial results. His package is slightly higher on the fixed pay side but carries similar proportions in bonus opportunities.
Compared with these, Shai Weiss’s total compensation is competitive but restrained. Virgin Atlantic is smaller than both British Airways and easyJet in fleet and network scale, so the relative positioning of Weiss’s salary makes sense. What stands out is that his pay is deeply performance-weighted — an approach reflecting the airline’s cautious recovery and investor expectations.
Governance and Pay Structure
Virgin Atlantic’s remuneration philosophy has always leaned towards balance. As a privately held company (jointly owned by the Virgin Group with 51%, Delta Air Lines with 49%, and Air France-KLM with a small stake), its executive compensation is not subject to the same level of public scrutiny as listed airlines. Still, the board maintains a framework that rewards leadership stability and long-term financial health rather than large annual bonuses.
Following the challenges of 2020–2022, Weiss voluntarily waived parts of his pay and bonus when the airline was undergoing restructuring. That gesture earned him goodwill both internally and externally, reinforcing his image as a steady and grounded leader.
Since then, the company has re-aligned its bonus metrics towards profitability, cash flow, and operational reliability — three areas Weiss has openly prioritised. His pay for 2025, while not officially disclosed in full, is expected to reflect these performance goals more than headline figures.
Virgin Atlantic’s Plans for 2025
Looking ahead, Virgin Atlantic’s 2025 plans centre around sustainable expansion and financial strengthening. The airline is ramping up capacity on transatlantic routes, especially to the United States, where demand has remained robust.
It has also resumed services to key leisure destinations such as Dubai, Miami, and the Caribbean islands, while considering further frequency increases to India and South Africa.
Fleet modernisation continues, with the Airbus A330neo now joining the lineup, promising improved fuel efficiency and passenger comfort. Sustainability sits at the heart of the company’s plans — Virgin Atlantic completed the world’s first 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) transatlantic flight in 2023 and is pushing forward with similar initiatives.
Operationally, the goal for 2025 is to achieve a stronger profit margin, improve punctuality, and manage rising fuel and maintenance costs. For Weiss, these objectives will directly influence any variable pay outcomes at the end of the fiscal year.
Bottom Line
Shai Weiss’s leadership has quietly stabilised Virgin Atlantic after a period of crisis and uncertainty. His pay structure reflects that measured, responsible approach — steady fixed compensation, and bonuses linked directly to the airline’s success. While not excessive by industry standards, it’s a fair reflection of the airline’s size, recovery stage, and ownership structure.
As Virgin Atlantic eyes a stronger 2025, Weiss’s role remains pivotal. His pay may not make headlines, but it symbolises a balance between ambition and realism — a fitting representation of how the airline itself has rebuilt from turbulence to renewed optimism.
Virgin Atlantic CEO Salary FAQs
His base salary remains around £700,000 annually, unchanged from recent years.
Although Virgin Atlantic hasn’t disclosed the full figure, it’s estimated to be in the range of £1.2–£1.4 million, depending on performance bonuses.
He earns slightly less than British Airways CEO Sean Doyle (£1.4 million) and around the same range as easyJet CEO Kenton Jarvis (£800,000 base, plus incentives).
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