In it for the long haul: Virgin Atlantic strengthens its home in the North
Virgin Atlantic is boosting its long-haul flying from Manchester this summer with additional services to Orlando, reinforcing its long-term commitment to the airline’s home in the North.
Following Aer Lingus’ decision to withdraw its long-haul flying from Manchester, Virgin Atlantic is increasing Manchester to Orlando capacity by 12% in peak Summer 2026 with additional flights. These changes ensure customers across the North of England can continue to benefit from direct, long-haul connectivity and will be on sale from Tuesday 3 February.
In addition, capacity will be increased by 17% in Winter 2026 as services to Orlando will be upgauged to the airline’s A350-1000 aircraft, with further capacity increases from Manchester expected to follow for Summer 2027.
This year Virgin Atlantic is delighted to celebrate 30 years of flying from Manchester, it’s home in the north. The airline started operations in May 1996 with services to Orlando and now flies to four US destinations - Orlando, New York, Atlanta and Las Vegas, the only US West Coast flight available from the northwest as well as a seasonal winter service direct to Barbados. These services support both leisure and business travel and enhance connections for customers in the North, by offering the opportunity to connect onwards to key US destinations and beyond, with partners including Delta Air Lines, IndiGo and SkyTeam.
In addition, Virgin Atlantic is welcoming a number of Aer Lingus pilots into the business, helping to retain highly skilled aviation roles in the region. The airline is working closely with Aer Lingus to support customers affected by cancelled services, including reprotecting passengers onto Virgin Atlantic flights where possible.
Dave Geer, Chief Commercial Officer at Virgin Atlantic, said: “Manchester has been our home in the North for thirty years and we’re in it for the long haul. Increasing capacity on our Orlando services is a clear signal of that commitment, ensuring customers can continue to travel across the Atlantic from their local airport.
“We’re also proud to be welcoming experienced Aer Lingus pilots into Virgin Atlantic and to be supporting customers impacted by their changes. Manchester matters to us, and we’ll continue to invest in the region as demand grows.”
Stephen Turner, Chief Commercial Officer at Manchester Airport, said: "We are proud to connect the people of the North with the world - and our partnership with Virgin Atlantic plays a key role in doing that.
“There’s nothing quite like the excitement you feel in the terminal before a flight to Orlando so it’s great that Virgin Atlantic is reaffirming its commitment to its home in the North and adding more flights to Florida.
“We look forward to working together in years to come to strengthen links between our region, the US and beyond."
ENDS
About Virgin Atlantic
Virgin Atlantic was founded by entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson in 1984, with innovation and amazing customer service at its core. In 2025, the airline was voted Britain’s only Global Five Star Airline by APEX for the ninth year running in the Official Airline Ratings. Headquartered in London, it employs 9,250 people worldwide, flying customers to 28 destinations throughout the year.
Alongside shareholder and partner Delta Air Lines, Virgin Atlantic operates a leading transatlantic network, with onward connections to over 200 cities around the world. In 2020, Air France-KLM, Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic launched an expanded Joint Venture, offering a comprehensive route network, convenient flight schedules, competitive fares and reciprocal frequent flyer benefits, including the ability to earn and redeem miles across all carriers. Virgin Atlantic joined SkyTeam in 2023, as the global airline alliance’s first and only UK member airline, enhancing SkyTeam’s transatlantic network to and from London Heathrow and Manchester.
Virgin Atlantic has been pioneering sustainability leadership for more than 15 years, committing to Net Zero by 2050 and continuous action that reduces environmental impact. The airline operates one of the youngest and most fuel-efficient fleets in the skies, with an average age of 6.9yrs. In 2022, Virgin Atlantic welcomed its first A330-900’s to the fleet, continuing its transformation towards 100% next generation aircraft by 2028. For more information visit www.virginatlantic.com or via Facebook, X and Instagram @virginatlantic.