VSbulletin COVID-19 Ongoing Travel Disruption. Update 23 April
- 23 April 2021
- News
- Virgin Atlantic
There continues to be ongoing disruption to travel following the national lockdown in the UK and travel restrictions to and from many of the countries we operate to.
We are continuously reviewing our flying programme and in response to the ongoing impact of Covid-19 we have made the difficult decision to cancel our seasonal services from Glasgow and Belfast to Orlando for 2021. We remain committed to serving our customers in Scotland and Northern Ireland and look forward to resuming services in 2022. Bookings affected by this change will be updated in your GDS on Saturday 24 April 2021. The status of Belfast departing flights will be changed to UN and passengers booked from Glasgow from 2nd July onwards will be rebooked on to an alternative service from Manchester. Our most up to date flexibility policy can be found here.
As a result of the dynamic and fast-moving travel environment, we continue to make schedule changes which will affect our Flying Programme for the coming weeks.
- We are reducing frequencies on several routes and to ensure impacted passengers can continue with their travel plans, they will be reprotected to the most suitable alternative departure.
- Unfortunately, we have also taken the difficult decision to cancel some flights. Because of limited operations to these destinations, there will be no reprotection option available, these sectors will appear as UN.
Flights from 6 May to 16 May 2021 will updated in your GDS on Saturday 24 April 2021.
The following flights are cancelled
| Cancellations | Effective Until |
| LHR-MBJ-LHR | 16 May |
| MAN-BGI-MAN | 16 May |
| LHR-GND-LHR | 16 May |
| LHR-ANU-LHR | 16 May |
| LHR-HKG only | 16 May |
| LHR-PVG-LHR | 16 May |
| LHR-CPT-LHR | 16 May |
| LHR-JNB-LHR | 16 May |
| MAN-ISB-MAN | 31 May |
| LHR-SEA-LHR | 16 May |
| LHR-SFO-LHR | 16 May |
During April we plan to maintain operations on the following routes, subject to late changes:
| Operating | Frequency | |
| Caribbean | LHR-BGI-LHR | 2 per week |
| USA | LHR-ATL-LHR | 3 per week |
| LHR-BOS-LHR | 1 per week | |
| LHR-JFK-LHR | 7 per week | |
| LHR-LAX-LHR | 5 per week | |
| LHR-MIA-LHR | 1 per week | |
| India | LHR-BOM-LHR | 4 per week |
| LHR-DEL-LHR | 4 per week | |
| Pakistan | LHR-LHE-LHR | 4 per week |
| LHR-ISB-LHR | 3 per week | |
| MAN-ISB-MAN | 4 per week **subject to restrictions lifting** | |
| Hong Kong | HKG-LHR only | 3 per week |
| Nigeria | LHR-LOS-LHR | 7 per week |
| Israel | LHR-TLV-LHR | 2 per week |
We will continue to keep our website up to date with all the latest updates to schedule and travel restrictions.
Please check here regularly for updates and here for specific flight status.
We encourage agents with customers booked to travel over the next few days to check the official Government advice for the UK and the destination, before heading to the airport.
Please ensure the latest traveller contact information is available within the booking.
Arrivals to UK Testing
The UK Government has confirmed new mandatory testing requirements for all international arrivals to England, effective Monday 15 February 2021.
Customers arriving in England will be required to have two PCR tests, on day 2 and day 8 of their 10-day quarantine. If arriving from a 'red list’ country, passengers will also need to quarantine in a government-approved hotel.
It is vital that all arriving customers comply with these testing and quarantine requirements and complete the online Passenger Locator Form HERE before arriving at the departure airport. Please note, these UK Government public health measures will be enforced using financial penalties.
We will be incorporating this into our pre-departure communications to customers so they are aware of the mandatory requirement. Please ensure the latest traveller contact information is available within the booking so the latest instructions reach the traveller.
We encourage agents and travellers to regularly check here for more information.
Stay Current on Travel Restrictions and Entry Requirements
Many of the countries we fly to and from have put strict entry requirements in place. The safety and wellbeing of our customers and people is always our top priority, and we continue to follow the advice of the UK Government and international health organisations.
While we are constantly reviewing the information available to us, which is available here , please make sure you and your customers stay up to date by visiting the relevant government's website for the very latest travel updates and advice. It's really important to check the latest travel restrictions in place at the destination before going to the airport, including eligibility for entry and screening. If travellers do not meet the requirements, they may not be allowed to fly.
Please ensure the latest traveller contact information is available within the booking so the latest instructions reach the traveller via SMS and email.
USA Arrivals Testing
From 28th December, The US Government is requiring all UK arriving air travellers, including children 2 and over, to present evidence of a PCR, LAMP or antigen test taken within 72 hours before departure. See: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announcement and Customer FAQ here: CDC UK Covid-19 Testing FAQs
Flexibility Policy
We offer significant flexibility through our rebooking policy, having extended its rebooking horizon all the way until 30 April 2023, for all booking periods.
View our latest policy here.
Still Planning to Travel?
We will continue to provide vital international connectivity from/to London Heathrow Terminal 2 for customers that are permitted to travel for work, education or other legally permitted reasons, and if that’s the case, we’re here and ready to help your customers fly safe and fly well. Please check here for specific flight status.
Travellers Stuck Away from Home?
For customers who are mid-trip and away from home please check here for instructions.
Fly safe, fly well