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Virgin Atlantic suspends its seasonal Manchester to Las Vegas route and says it will not return for summer 2027
Virgin Atlantic has suspended seasonal direct flights between Manchester, England, and Harry Reid International Airport, the Review-Journal reported. Daily London Heathrow service to Las Vegas is not affected.
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What happened
Virgin Atlantic has suspended its seasonal route from Manchester Airport in England to Harry Reid International Airport, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported. The airline said the service will not come back for summer 2027. It shared the news in an update on Thursday.
In that update, the airline called the move a “difficult decision” and apologized to customers, according to the Review-Journal. As a result, travelers in Manchester will not have a direct Virgin Atlantic flight to Las Vegas next year.
What it means for travelers
The change affects people who had already booked the Manchester flights. It also affects anyone planning a trip between the two cities in 2027.
Booked passengers
Affected customers will see their bookings updated by Saturday, the Review-Journal reported. They can ask for a refund or look at rebooking options. The report did not say how many customers held bookings on the suspended flights.
Other ways to reach Las Vegas
Virgin Atlantic is pointing customers toward connecting trips. According to the airline's update as reported by the Review-Journal, travelers can fly Virgin Atlantic to New York JFK or Atlanta and connect on Delta Air Lines to Las Vegas. The same routing works in reverse for trips back.
London service continues
The daily direct flight between London Heathrow and Las Vegas has not been affected, the Review-Journal reported. Virgin Atlantic will still fly directly between London and Harry Reid International Airport while the Manchester route is off the schedule.
Where the airline is adding flights
Along with the Manchester news, Virgin Atlantic announced added service elsewhere in 2027, the Review-Journal reported. The airline said it will increase daily service from New York JFK from April to October 2027. It also plans up to 19 flights per week to Orlando during July and August 2027.
Atlanta service will rise to 11 flights per week between June 5 and July 16, with larger aircraft used throughout the summer, according to the report. The Review-Journal did not say whether any of these added flights involve Las Vegas.
Background on the route
Virgin Atlantic began flying between Manchester and Las Vegas in 2011, the Review-Journal reported. Even at the start, the city was a “hard sell,” according to a Review-Journal article cited in the report.
The route ran as a seasonal service, not a year-round one. The Review-Journal did not report passenger numbers for the route. It also did not give a reason for the suspension beyond the airline's statement calling it a difficult decision.
What to watch next
- Updated bookings for affected Manchester customers, which Virgin Atlantic said will appear by Saturday.
- Refund and rebooking requests from travelers whose Manchester-Las Vegas trips were canceled.
- Virgin Atlantic's added 2027 service, including more daily JFK flights from April to October and up to 19 weekly Orlando flights in July and August.