VSbulletin COVID-19 Ongoing Travel Disruption. Update 29 Jan
- 29 January 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.
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 10 February to 16 February 2021 will updated in your GDS on Saturday 30 January 2021.
The following flights are cancelled
| Cancellations | Effective Until |
| LHR-MBJ-LHR | 28 February |
| MAN-BGI-MAN | 28 February |
| LHR-GND-LHR | 28 February |
| LHR-ANU-LHR | 28 February |
| LHR-HKG only | 16 February |
| LHR-PVG-LHR | 16 February |
| LHR-CPT-LHR | 28 February |
| LHR-JNB-LHR | 16 February |
During February 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 | 2 per week | |
| LHR-JFK-LHR | 7 per week | |
| LHR-LAX-LHR | 5 per week | |
| LHR-MIA-LHR | 1 per week | |
| India | LHR-BOM-LHR | 2 per week |
| LHR-DEL-LHR | 3 per week | |
| Pakistan | LHR-LHE-LHR | 4 per week |
| LHR-ISB-LHR | 3 per week | |
| MAN-ISB-MAN | 4 per week | |
| China & Hong Kong | HKG-LHR only | 5 operations VS239 (20,22,24,26,28 Feb) |
| LHR-PVG-LHR | 2 per week **subject to travel restrictions lifting** | |
| South Africa | LHR-JNB-LHR | 7 per week **subject to travel restrictions lifting** |
| Nigeria | LHR-LOS-LHR | 7 per week |
| Israel | LHR-TLV-LHR | 2 per week **subject to travel restrictions lifting** |
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
Effective from 04:00 GMT on Monday 18 January, al l travellers arriving in the UK need a negative Covid-19 test result, taken within 72 hours of departure. This is required for all inbound passengers to England, including UK nationals. The Government announcement and further details can be found here.
The new rule came into effect later for Antigua, Barbados and St Lucia – at 0400 GMT on Thursday 21 January.
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.
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 continue to offer flexibility for customers whose plans have been impacted by the Covid-19 situation including rebooking up to 31 December 2022. 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