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.
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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 celebrates 30 years of flying from Manchester. The airline started operations in May 1996 with services to Orlando and now flies to 4 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.