Former Virgin Atlantic Routes

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Virgin Atlantic Boeing 747 Aircraft
Virgin Atlantic Boeing 747 Aircraft (Image Credit: Virgin Atlantic)

Here is a list of former Virgin Atlantic routes served from London Gatwick & Heathrow airports.

This does not include routes operated from UK regional airports or by other Virgin branded airlines such as Virgin America, Virgin Blue / V Australia / Virgin Australia, Virgin Express or Virgin Nigeria.

UK & Ireland

These routes operated under the brand “Virgin Atlantic Little Red” with Airbus A320 aircraft leased from Aer Lingus.

Aberdeen – Launched April 2013, suspended 26 September 2015

Edinburgh – Launched April 2013, suspended 26 September 2015

Manchester – Launched April 2013, suspended 29 March 2015

Europe

Athens – Launched May 1995, suspended after 11 September 2001

Russia

Moscow – Virgin never launched this route, but twice unsuccessfully applied for traffic rights, losing first to bmi British Midland and then to easyJet.

United States of America

Austin – Launched at Heathrow 25 May 2022; suspended 7 January 2024

Chicago O’Hare – First launched 1 November 1999, suspended after 11 September 2001. Relaunched at Heathrow April 2007, switched to summer seasonal, suspended permanently in 2016

Detroit – Launched at Heathrow June 2015, now operated by codeshare partner Delta

Newark – Virgin’s inaugural route launched under flight number VS1 at Gatwick 22 June 1984 before transferring to Heathrow in 1993, suspended March 2020

Canada

Vancouver – Summer seasonal route at Heathrow launched May 2012, suspended 11 October 2014

Central & South America

Sao Paulo – Planned launch at Heathrow on 29 March 2020 cancelled; planned relaunch in May 2024 postponed indefinitely

Varadero – Launched at Gatwick 2 April 2017, suspended September 2017

The Caribbean

Havana – First launched at Gatwick February 2005. Planned winter seasonal launch on 30 October 2022 cancelled

Kingston – Launched at Gatwick October 2007, suspended March 2012

Nassau – First launched at Gatwick July 1995; Relaunched at Heathrow 20 November 2021, suspended 23 February 2025

Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands – Launched 4 November 2023, suspended 21 February 2025

Saint Lucia – Launched 27 September 1998, suspended March 2020. Relaunched as a winter seasonal route from 18 December 2021, suspended 29 March 2025

Tobago – Launched at Gatwick February 2003; suspended 11 January 2023

Africa

Ghana – Launched at Heathrow March 2010, suspended 23 September 2013. Planned return on 1 May 2025 cancelled.

Nairobi – Launched at Heathrow June 2007, suspended November 2012

Port Harcourt – Launched at Gatwick February 2003, suspended 12 January 2006

Indian Ocean

Mauritius – Launched at Heathrow October 2007, suspended circa 2009/2010

Middle East

Tel Aviv – Launched 25 September 2019, planned resumption from 27 October 2025 officially cancelled on 28 April 2025

Central & South Asia

Islamabad – Launched at Heathrow December 2020, suspended 8 July 2023

Lahore – Launched at Heathrow December 2020, suspended 30 April 2023

Asia Pacific

Hong Kong – Launched at Heathrow February 1994, last operated December 2021, officially suspended October 2022

Shanghai – First launched at Heathrow on 12 July 1999 with Virgin securing traffic rights ahead of British Airways. Flights resumed on 1 May 2023, having not operated since December 2020. The route was suspended 25 October 2024

Tokyo Narita – Originally launched at Gatwick May 1989, transferred to Heathrow July 1991, suspended 31 January 2015

Sydney – Launched at Heathrow December 2004 via Hong Kong, suspended 5 May 2014

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