Virgin Atlantic will increase long-haul capacity from Manchester Airport this summer, adding extra flights to Orlando following Aer Lingus’ decision to withdraw long-haul services from the airport.
The airline said Manchester-Orlando capacity will rise by 12% in peak Summer 2026, with tickets going on sale from 3 February. A further uplift is planned for Winter 2026, when the route will be upgauged to the Airbus A350-1000, increasing capacity by 17%. Additional growth from Manchester is expected in Summer 2027.
Virgin Atlantic is marking 30 years of operations from Manchester in 2026, having launched services from the airport in 1996 with flights to Orlando. The carrier currently serves Orlando, New York, Atlanta and Las Vegas from Manchester, alongside a seasonal winter service to Barbados.
The airline said it is also taking on a number of Aer Lingus pilots and working with the Irish carrier to support affected customers, including rebooking passengers onto Virgin Atlantic flights where possible.