Belfast, Glasgow and Manchester airports feature in Virgin Atlantic 2021 programme surprisingly announced last week.  The airline is clearly confident in overcoming well publicised financial difficulties brought on by Covid-19.

Virgin plans to operate 31 routes during the season, 24 from Heathrow.  This includes 16 which were originally planned for this summer. Arriving from Gatwick are Antigua, Barbados, Grenada, Havana, Miami, Orlando and Tobago.  Passengers eligible for the Virgin Clubhouse will find the T3 facility, and its private car entrance, far superior (assuming T3 is working).
 
Virgin says it will retain its slot portfolio at Gatwick “so it can return in line with customer demand.” Quite how that will happen remains to be seen but, with Norwegian grounded, gaining movement opportunities should prove no problem.

The Heathrow – Tel Aviv route, launched in September 2019, becomes double-daily, while the new winter seasonal service to Cape Town will continue into April.

From Manchester Virgin Atlantic will fly to Atlanta, Barbados, Los Angeles, New York JFK and Orlando.  Flights to Boston and Las Vegas are being dropped. Delhi is due to start this winter. The seasonal service Orlando from Belfast International and Glasgow will be maintained.

Virgin Atlantic has now grounded its seven Boeing 747-400s and for the future will only fly twin-engined aircraft.

www.virginatlantic.com