Manchester: Virgin Atlantic Route News & Base Updates

[David_itl]

some news out of their financial report... we are no longer having a Virgin Clubhouse as one of the footnote indicates they took an impairment charge of £3.8 million to exit this plan.

Other news, as part of their continued commitment to Manchester, they will start an additional LHR-BOM service in September using the aircraft that they apparently don't have to start any MAN-India service which they state is "due to a lack of aircraft".

One truly has to wonder what their Manchester operation would look like if they weren't committed to MAN given the number of routes announced, started and pulled together with the announced and now cancelled Clubhouse.

 

[IanFarquharson]

some news out of their financial report... we are no longer having a Virgin Clubhouse as one of the footnote indicates they took an impairment charge of £3.8 million to exit this plan.

Other news, as part of their continued commitment to Manchester, they will start an additional LHR-BOM service in September using the aircraft that they apparently don't have to start any MAN-India service which they state is "due to a lack of aircraft".

One truly has to wonder what their Manchester operation would look like if they weren't committed to MAN given the number of routes announced, started and pulled together with the announced and now cancelled Clubhouse.

As they acquire more LHR slots they will use them from there not MAN, I am sure if they obtained lots of new slots (which is unlikely) they would only operate from LHR !

 

[David_itl]

In the news surrounding the relaunch of MAN-LAS and possibly returning to o LGW, we had the very welcome news of expansion goals for them in the period 2025 to 2030,

For MAN, Shai Weiss stated they would be looking to add 1 or 2 routes per year, mostly tied in with Virgin Holidays. To facilitate all this, they are looking to expand their fleet after the last A350 delivery. I would take this to mean that possibly some A330s will have leases extended and then looking at leasing companies for additional aircraft.

The "obvious" routes to begin with should be the ones dropped or announced and not started.

Mumbai and Delhi = candidates for year round 2 or 3 weekly
Boston = summer seasonal 3 or 4 weekly (in the absence of Delta wanting to launch using 757s and striking a blow before Aer Lingus and/or JetBlue potentially launch)
Montego Bay = winter seasonal (1 or 2 weekly)
Los Angeles (or San Francisco) = summer seasonal 3 weekly
Cape Town = winter seasonal 1 or 2 weekly
Maldives = weekly

Islamabad is a route I cannot see them returning to

 

[David_itl]

not a good sign when the general public know about the bout of cancellations that the Las Vegas service has had and wonder if its for the chop https://www.manchestereveningnews.c...ral&utm_campaign=embedded_search_item_desktop

 

[Scottie Dog]

not a good sign when the general public know about the bout of cancellations that the Las Vegas service has had and wonder if its for the chop https://www.manchestereveningnews.c...ral&utm_campaign=embedded_search_item_desktop

Not good news when it hits the papers.

 

[BHX492]

Surprised the article hasn’t said anything about other the destinations recently axed.

 

[marni1971]

Not good news when it hits the papers.

Typically though the MEN jump in without any constructive research and use twitter quotes to peddle their agenda. Was it pulled due to fleet limits with demand being absorbed with the other available flights? That’s the sort of questions they should be asking instead of their usual juvenile sensationalist tat.

 

[gulftraveller]

My bet would be crewing issues.

 

[BlueManc]

Doesn't look great when this happens without issues though -
03 Aug 2024 Columbia (CAE) Manchester (MAN) VS618 Landed 11:50
G-VPOP A35K

Got a plane and crew...

 

[mullion]

This has been arranged for months

 

[BlueManc]

This has been arranged for months

So has VS85/86. I understand the logistics and priorities, but if you've had your Casino trip cancelled and then learn that a similar aircraft did this, then you maybe a tad upset.

This isn't a dig at the football club. City did similar with a EY15/16 rotation when playing in Saudi.

 

[marni1971]

Info |

Virgin Atlantic will base the A330-900 at Manchester from January 2027.

VS73/74 to Orlando is listed as a daily A339, while the Wednesday New York JFK flight is also listed as A339 (the other 4 weekly flights remain A333).
SPD TRAVELS

https://twitter.com/x/status/2009758057065038164

 

[BCFC]

Not LBA related but Aer Lingus and maybe Jet2 Holidays in a year or so.

Virgin Atlantic is increasing flights between Manchester and Orlando, strengthening the airport’s US links just as Aer Lingus withdraws its long-haul services.

For summer 2026, the airline will add 12 percent more capacity on the Florida route. In winter, capacity rises by 17 percent as Virgin switches to its larger Airbus A350-1000, giving northern travellers more seats to year-round sun without using London airports.

The move keeps one of Manchester’s most popular transatlantic routes intact for families and leisure travellers. Orlando remains a core destination alongside New York, Atlanta, Las Vegas, and a seasonal Barbados service.

Virgin Atlantic is also hiring former Aer Lingus pilots, keeping aviation jobs in the region, and is helping rebook passengers affected by Aer Lingus cancellations.

Bookings for the expanded Orlando service open on February 3. The airline has also signalled further growth from Manchester in summer 2027.

#Avi#aviationnewsr#VirginAtlanticn#ManchesterAirport

 

[David_itl]

so this is the Virgin response to the Aer Lingus decision https://travelweekly.co.uk/news/virgin-atlantic-raises-manchester-capacity-to-help-fill-aer-lingus-long-haul-void

12% rise in capacity this summer for MAN-MCO (alleged to be 2 extra weekly flights)
Confirmation of the A35K on MAN-MCO this winter equating to a 17% increase in capacity
2027 to see further capacity increases

 

[michael]

Not LBA related but Aer Lingus and maybe Jet2 Holidays in a year or so.

Virgin Atlantic is increasing flights between Manchester and Orlando, strengthening the airport’s US links just as Aer Lingus withdraws its long-haul services.

For summer 2026, the airline will add 12 percent more capacity on the Florida route. In winter, capacity rises by 17 percent as Virgin switches to its larger Airbus A350-1000, giving northern travellers more seats to year-round sun without using London airports.

The move keeps one of Manchester’s most popular transatlantic routes intact for families and leisure travellers. Orlando remains a core destination alongside New York, Atlanta, Las Vegas, and a seasonal Barbados service.

Virgin Atlantic is also hiring former Aer Lingus pilots, keeping aviation jobs in the region, and is helping rebook passengers affected by Aer Lingus cancellations.

Bookings for the expanded Orlando service open on February 3. The airline has also signalled further growth from Manchester in summer 2027.

#Avi#aviationnewsr#VirginAtlanticn#ManchesterAirport

The first part of this is ever so slightly out of date as VS have been using the A35K on Orlando all of last summer and are doing this winter - we went out to MCO on the A350 a couple of weeks ago.
Interesting if it's true though that VS are looking at hiring Ex MAN based EI A330 pilots given VS already runs A330's to their other North American destinations, however, I did read somewhere a couple of weeks ago that VS are looking at basing their new A339's at MAN from next winter and the way I read it it was to replace the A350's - but I might be wrong.

 

[mullion]

No a mix of A339/A350 with A333 leaving over winter plus they are to add to fleet but not confirmed with what yet in 2027

 

[Jerry]

Virgin Atlantic to increase 🇬🇧Manchester flights in Summer 2026:

Summer (w/c 6 July):
8 Orlando
7 Atlanta
7 New York JFK
3 Las Vegas

Peak Summer (w/c 3 August):
19 Orlando (+7) (A330/A350)
7 Atlanta (-) (A330)
6 New York JFK (+1) (A330/A350)
2 Las Vegas (-) (A350)

STC

https://twitter.com/x/status/2017516935169114613

 

[mullion]

Sorry perhaps not clear but I mean 2027 when the fleet will be increased

 

[marni1971]

Currently Virgin have said they intend to keep the 350s on Orlando. Neos on other routes.

Interesting times. One can hope they manage to add more to the Airbus order over the coming months and make it a small expansion program as opposed to just a replacement.

 

[BlueManc]

VS139/140 A330 1015 dep. Arr back 0600.