Virgin Atlantic is giving British holidaymakers more ways to get away with a major boost to its Manchester to Orlando flights this summer.
The airline is ramping up capacity by 12 per cent during peak Summer 2026, adding extra services to Florida after Aer Lingus removes long-haul routes from Manchester.
If looking for some winter sun, capacity will jump by 17 per cent in Winter 2026 as the carrier switches to its larger A350-1000 aircraft on the route.
For families across the North of England, this means keeping the direct transatlantic connections they love, with no need to trek down to London airports.
Virgin Atlantic is giving British holidaymakers more ways to get away with a major boost to its Manchester-Orlando flights this summer
|GETTY
This year marks a special milestone for Virgin Atlantic – three decades of flying from Manchester, which the airline proudly calls its home in the North.
Today, travellers from the northwest can jet off to four American destinations: Orlando, New York, Atlanta and Las Vegas.
That Vegas route is particularly special for the brand, as it is the only direct flight to the US West Coast available from the region.
There's also a seasonal winter service to Barbados for those craving Caribbean sunshine.
NEW ROUTES
Virgin Atlantic is also stepping up to help those caught out by Aer Lingus's departure from Manchester.
The airline is bringing a number of Aer Lingus pilots on board, which means skilled aviation jobs are staying in the region.
For passengers left stranded by cancelled Aer Lingus services, Virgin Atlantic is working closely with the Irish carrier to sort things out – including rebooking affected travellers onto their own flights where they can.
Anyone keen to book the new Orlando services can do so from Tuesday, February 3 when bookings open.
Travellers from the northwest can jet off to four American destinations, including New York
| GETTYChief commercial officer at Virgin Atlantic, Dave Geer, said: "Manchester has been our home in the North for 30 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."
The airline has also hinted at further capacity increases from Manchester for Summer 2027.
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