Manchester: Virgin Atlantic Route News & Base Updates

[BCFC]

I bet Jet2 will be jumping on board the US, Caribbean and Asia Holiday business in 2027/28….

 

[Aviador]

I bet Jet2 will be jumping on board the US, Caribbean and Asia Holiday business in 2027/28….

I bet they won't, but we'll see.

 

[Jerry]

I bet they won't, but we'll see.

I'd be surprised if they did as well. Would be incredibly expensive to setup plus to make it work especially for the Caribbean they'd have to look at setting up a cruise arm as well. In flight wise they'd need a premium cabin product, IFE and a complimentary meal service. Just seems a lot of expense.

 

[YorkshireLad]

I reckon they'll maximise their market in Europe/North Africa before turning their eyes to the transatlantic market. I can see it happening eventually, but just not yet

 

[Aviador]

Tui who would be their main competitor in that sector have been slightly reducing their offering over the last year suggesting the market isn't strong enough at the moment.

 

[David_itl]

What's going to be interesting is seeing which LHR services are going to see reduced frequencies to allow MAN to have an extra 9 flights a week.

The other consequence of boosting Orlando flights is if this is going to be a permanent summer thing of 19 per week peak season and if that is going to be at the expense of any future route expansion in the near future: remember last year MAN said it was talking with Virgin over the restoration of Los Angeles and/or San Francisco.

 

[Jerry]

Looks like Virgin Atlantic US routes will get some marketing support
https://t.co/XeOIoOMhe8

https://twitter.com/x/status/2018635061474865457

 

[Sherburnflyer92]

I bet they won't, but we'll see.

They will.

 

[gulftraveller]

They will.

At the moment, it seems very unlikely. It is a shame because in comparison with other European countries, including Poland, Czechia and Slovakia, UK is very conservative with its holiday destinations, Where are tours to Zanzibar, Mombasa, Maldives, Vietnam etc… ?

 

[Jerry]

30 year's at Manchester for Virgin Atlantic. Virgin will also being using the Executive Lounge at Terminal 2.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2055235678435266822

 

[David_itl]

Interesting to see Virgin are leasing one of their former A330s that is now with Wamos on flights out of Manchester. .

 

[michael]

according to Jethroes VS are to dispose of their 5 A330 300's to SAS Sweden, no timeframe mentioned though.

 

[CCGE29]

according to Jethroes VS are to dispose of their 5 A330 300's to SAS Sweden, no timeframe mentioned though.

This has long been planned. To be replaced by A330neo’s as they are delivered through this winter. MAN sees its first based Neo from November operating ATL/JFK on various dates.

CCGE29

 

[Jerry]

Apparently Virgin Atlantic have removed Las Vegas from sale for Summer 2027

https://twitter.com/x/status/2114694392959185125

 

[Sherburnflyer92]

What were load factors like?

 

[Scottie Dog]

Try looking at my monthly statistics at https://forums4airports.com/threads/302/page-69

Post #1368 is the latest and is for up to August 2026.

 

[Land23R]

Re LAS based on Scottie's stats, I would say overall load factors have been disappointing some in the 60's percent, others in the 70's and maybe just a few over 80% although I've not rechecked. That said, it's probably more relevant how Upper Class and PE were performing which we don't know, and with the fact that LAS seems to have lost its allure combined with the exchange rate and the US being quite expensive.
As for Virgin replacing the capacity, I'm not holding my breath. If they surprise me, perhaps it would be outside the US - the Caribbean or even India given that market is available yet again.

 

[Jerry]

Re LAS based on Scottie's stats, I would say overall load factors have been disappointing some in the 60's percent, others in the 70's and maybe just a few over 80% although I've not rechecked. That said, it's probably more relevant how Upper Class and PE were performing which we don't know, and with the fact that LAS seems to have lost its allure combined with the exchange rate and the US being quite expensive.
As for Virgin replacing the capacity, I'm not holding my breath. If they surprise me, perhaps it would be outside the US - the Caribbean or even India given that market is available yet again.

If the capacity is replaced especially to a North American destination then it won't be so bad.

 

[LS@MAN]

Hopefully they bring up that new A330neo G-VMAN which is currently at Heathrow!

 

[David_itl]

Wasn't the A350 used on LAS? Wonder what the metrics would have looked like with a A330neo on the routes. Excluding Las Vegas, there are still well over 100,000 passengers a year going MAN to/from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Phoenix, Portland, San Diego, Seattle and Salt Lake City with $93 million in passenger revenue.

LAX or SFO probably have a better chance of attracting more business class passengers and I daresay better feeding opportunities to those other cites and Las Vegas rather than see what connections are available ex Las Vegas for those who are not going there on holiday.