Starting November 3, 2022, Virgin Atlantic will launch four weekly flights between London Heathrow and Tampa, Florida, increasing to daily service from November 28, 2022. The new service complements up to four daily flights to Orlando and double daily service to Miami.
On Wednesday (July 6, 2022), Virgin Atlantic announced the launch of new service between London Heathrow (LHR) and Tampa International Airport (TPA) in Florida. The carrier will offer four weekly flights from November 3rd, expanding to daily service starting November 28, 2022. The new TPA service complements existing service to Orlando (MCO) with up to four daily flights, and double-daily service to Miami (MIA). The carrier also launched new direct service to Austin, Texas in May 2022. With over 190,000 seats annually, Virgin Atlantic will be the only airline directly connecting the Tampa Bay region with London Heathrow. The route will also offer seamless onward connections with Virgin Atlantic and their partners’ networks. Flights between LHR and TPA will be on sale from July 13, 2022 with return economy fares from £436.
In Wednesday’s announcment, Virgin Atlantic’s Chief Commercial Officer, Juha Jarvinen, said,
“We are delighted to continue our expansion in the US with this new daily service to Tampa, Florida offering even more choice for customers on both sides of the Atlantic to connect between the US and the UK. Florida is very much a firm favourite for our customers ever since our first flight to Miami back in 1986. With the popular theme parks and the stunning beaches of St. Pete and Clearwater within easy reach, we know it’s an area our customers will love to explore.
“The region has a booming economy with high profile businesses moving to the area and many budding entrepreneurs registering startups in the city. We very much look forward to forging new relationships within the Tampa Bay community and cannot wait to welcome customers, both existing and new onboard, flying them safely to explore this exciting region.”
Also commenting on Virgin Atlantic’s upcoming service, Tampa International Airport’s Chief Executive Officer, Joe Lopano, said,
“We at Tampa International Airport are thrilled to offer our first-ever nonstop route to Heathrow and launch this new partnership with Virgin Atlantic. Not only does this create another Tampa-London option for our leisure travellers, but there’s a huge upside for our thriving business community to now have a direct connection to the world’s premier business airport. We expect this to be a popular route during what we know will be a very busy winter travel season at TPA.”
Visit Florida’s President and CEO, Dana Young added,
“Expanding flight options and exposure to destinations throughout Florida is vital to maintaining and strengthening the UK's position as our No. 1 market for overseas visitation. This new Virgin Atlantic service will provide more opportunities for UK travellers to experience the vibrant and growing city of Tampa, which offers a dynamic food scene, sports, arts and culture and much more.”
Later this year, Virgin Atlantic will become the first UK airline to receive the Airbus A330neo, featuring a new Upper Class suite and social space for guests. During 2022, the carrier will take delivery of three A330neos, with up to 13 more being delivered through 2026, as the carrier transforms their fleet into one of the quietest and most duel efficient in the sky.
Founded by entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson in 1984, Virgin Atlantic has brought innovation and the highest level of customer care to the airline industry. The carrier was voted Britain’s only Global Five Star Airline by APEX in 2021 for the fifth consecutive year. Headquartered in London, Virgin Atlantic employs 5,900 team members worldwide. The airline currently serves 27 destinations across four continents. Alongside shareholder and Joint Venture partner Delta Air Lines, Virgin Atlantic operates a leading network between the US and UK, with onward connections to over 200 cities around the world. By the end of 2022, Virgin Atlantic will operate an efficient and simplified fleet of 37 twin-engine aircraft, delivering a 10 percent savings compared to the aircraft they replace.
Source: Virgin Atlantic