Virgin Atlantic boss Sir Richard Branson visited Gatwick for a very special christening.
The entrepreneur smashed a bottle of champagne over the nose of the airline's newest Boeing 747-400 before its maiden trip to New York.
Sir Richard named the plane English Rose. He was accompanied by Gatwick managing director Janis Kong.
The aircraft is the first 747-400 to be operated from Gatwick by Virgin and is the seventh in the airline's fleet.
A Virgin spokeswoman said the company was replacing its older 747-200s with the new plane and more will be based at Gatwick in the next few years.
The plane will operate daily to New York, taking off at 1pm and arriving at 3.40pm, New York time.
It leaves the United States at 6.30pm and arrives back at Gatwick at 6.10am.
The new planes are quieter and offer greater fuel efficiency.
The new service will carry 337 economy passengers, 20 premier economy and 48 upper class.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article