Virgin Atlantic has announced that it will begin flying to the island paradise of Maldives as well as Turks and Caicos next year.
Maldives
Starting 22nd October 2023, Virgin Atlantic will operate 3-flights-a-week between London Heathrow Airport and Malé’s Velana International Airport. These will be winter-seasonal flights which will go on sale on 30th November 2022.
We couldn’t be more thrilled to add these two exotic new routes to our flying portfolio. Nothing sets our hearts soaring like a new destination to explore, so, with two about join our network, there’s only really one question. Where to first? The Maldives has always been an incredibly popular destination for Virgin Atlantic Holidays customers, which is why we couldn’t wait to give them the opportunity to travel to the idyllic location in style onboard Virgin Atlantic aircraft.
said Juha Jarvinen, Chief Commercial Officer, Virgin Atlantic.
With crystal white sands and sheltered lagoons, the Maldives redefines paradise, in what is undoubtedly one of the most idyllic holiday destinations, offering luxurious relaxation and adventure. Travellers looking to treat themselves can experience world-class diving, surfing, fishing, kayaking and with over 1,000 coral islands to enjoy, there’s no shortage of things to see or do.
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Turks and Caicos
As of 15th November 2023, the airline will operate twice-weekly year round flights between London Heathrow Airport and Providenciales International Airport. The flights will go on sale on 11th January 2023.
We’re delighted to begin flying to the Turks & Caicos islands, as we continue to grow our Caribbean portfolio, offering more choice for our customers to explore these beautiful islands and enjoy some winter sun. We know our customers will be over the moon with the introduction of these new destinations, both offering something unique for travellers looking to either simply relax or explore a new corner of the world.
added Jarvinen.
The stunning islands of the Turks & Caicos offer some of the most pristine white sand beaches, surrounded by the world’s clearest turquoise waters. Boasting an expansive barrier reef, home to vibrant coral, dolphins, turtles, stingrays and more, the islands make for a breath-taking playground for snorkelling and diving.
Both the routes will be operated by Virgin Atlantic’s Boeing B787-9 Dreamliners featuring 31 Upper Class seats (Business Class seats), 35 Premium Economy Class seats and 192 Economy Delight, Classic and Light seats.
Competition
As is the case with many routes out of London Heathrow, Virgin Atlantic will face a stiff competition from British Airways on Malé route. British Airways currently operates a daily flight to the island paradise while it will operate 5-weekly flights in the summer schedule of 2023.
On London Heathrow-Providenciales route also, Virgin Atlantic will face competition from British Airways. The British flag carrier operates a one-stop flight to Providenciales with a stop in Nassau (as of 18th January 2023, the stop appears to be in Antigua).
Virgin Atlantic has added a new point (Maldives) to its Asian network after a long time while Turks and Caicos will be its third new destination across the Atlantic in recent times, with the others being Austin and Tampa, which were added in May 2022 and November 2022 respectively.
Featured image by Facebook/Virgin Atlantic
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