VIRGIN Atlantic flights could soon launch from a new UK airport, for the first time in four years.

The Virgin Atlantic founder Sir Richard Branson expressed his desire to return to Gatwick Airport after flights were shelved during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Speaking to the Sunday Times, the Virgin boss explained that he wanted flights to resume at Gatwick Airport.

Branson told reporters: “It matters – it’s where we started. I will twist arms.”

The London airport is where the airline’s very first flights, from the English capital to New York, launched nearly 40 years ago on June 22, 1984.

According to Travel Weekly, Virgin Atlantic has kept the ownership of some of its Gatwick Airport slots, meaning there is a possibility flights could return to the airport.

While new Virgin Atlantic routes haven’t been confirmed from Gatwick Airport, the airline has been launching other services across the country.

Just last week, the airline launched a brand-new route from Manchester Airport to Las Vegas.

Flights between the two destinations started operating on June 2, 2024.

The weekly seasonal service will operate every Sunday, with the direct flight taking 10 hours and 35 minutes.

Outbound flights will leave Manchester Airport at 9.50am before arriving in Las Vegas at 12.25pm local time.

Return flights will depart from America at 2.40pm, landing at Manchester Airport the following morning at 8.20am.

Tickets are already on sale for the service, with Return Economy flights starting from £856.12 per person.

Earlier this year, the airline also launched a new route from Heathrow Airport to Bangalore, India.

The new service invited passengers to explore the cultural diversity, and culinary delights of the “Silicon Valley of India.”

Last year, hundreds of thousands of passengers travelled to the city from Heathrow. 

OTHER NEW ROUTES

Virgin Atlantic isn’t the only airline launching a new long-haul routes from the UK, with Norse Atlantic Airways also announcing the launch of a new service.

Earlier this year, the budget airline revealed that it would be launching a new route from London Gatwick to Las Vegas.

The route will be launching from September 12, with one-way fares starting from as little as £163, while return fares will start from just £399 in economy.

Other Norse flights from the UK include:

• London Gatwick to Barbados
• London Gatwick to to Los Angeles
• London Gatwick to to Miami
• London Gatwick to Orlando
• London Gatwick to Washington.

And Sun reporter Amanda Devlin recently tried out Norse Atlantic Airways – here’s her review.

Meanwhile, Ryanair and TUI will both be launching services from from Bournemouth Airport.

And Jet2 confirmed Bournemouth Airport would become its 12th UK base, with 16 new flights to launch from the airport next summer.

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