Aer Lingus confirmed it is closing its Manchester base, ending nonstop flights to the US and Caribbean.
Virgin Atlantic will add capacity to Orlando this summer and expects to increase it further for 2027.
“Manchester really matters to us,” said Virgin Atlantic Airways CEO Corneel Koster.
Virgin also operates flights to Barbados, Atlanta and New York JFK from Manchester
Virgin said it will boost Orlando capacity by 12% for peak summer 2026 flights.
It equates to seven additional weekly flights.
There will also be more seat capacity during the winter by deploying Airbus A350-1000 on the Orlando route.
“Manchester has been our home in the North for thirty years and we’re in it for the long haul. Increasing capacity on our Orlando services is a clear signal of that commitment,” said Dave Geer, Chief Commercial Officer at Virgin Atlantic.
Aer Lingus will formally close down its Manchester base at the end of March 2026.
