Virgin Atlantic announces increase of 20% this winter for the Caribbean market
28 November 2006
Virgin Atlantic Airways has announced that it is now the largest non-stop scheduled carrier between the UK to the Caribbean, operating 18% more capacity than British Airways to the region. For this winter season (October 2006-March 2007) the airline expects to carry over 350,000 passengers on its Caribbean routes, which represents a 20% increase for the same period last year.
Virgin Atlantic began operating services to the Caribbean in 1998 with direct flights to Barbados, St Lucia and Antigua. In 2003, the airline launched weekly services to Grenada and Tobago and in 2005; a twice-weekly service to Cuba and a weekly service to The Bahamas were introduced. Earlier this year, the airline also launched direct twice-weekly services between Gatwick and Montego Bay, Jamaica.
Willy Boulter, Commercial Director of Virgin Atlantic, commented: “Virgin Atlantic is really proud to be the biggest scheduled carrier to the Caribbean – this is a market where the demand from British carriers continues to grow each year and we have been able to offer more direct services and frequency than any other carrier. Since we launched services in 1998 we have flown nearly 3m passengers to the region.”
Following a review of its services to the Caribbean, unfortunately the airline has decided to cease its weekly flight to Nassau as there is currently insufficient demand to sustain a direct service to the island. Passengers will still have the option to travel will Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Holidays to Miami and then connect onwards to the islands.
Commenting on the decision, Willy Boulter, said: “We are really disappointed to have to cease our direct operations to Nassau in the Bahamas as the current demand is not quite sufficient to warrant direct services to the island. However, Virgin Holidays will continue to offer its extensive holiday programme in the Bahamas and holidaymakers wishing to travel with us to Nassau after 17 March next year will be able to fly on Virgin Atlantic to Miami with onward travel to the islands.”
Last week Virgin Atlantic launched its first direct services between Manchester and St Lucia which will operate once a week. The airline also operates a weekly service between Manchester and Barbados.
Virgin Atlantic flies to 27 destinations worldwide with services to Mauritius launching in November 2007. The airline carried five million passengers last year and has 35 aircraft in its fleet with an average age of less than six years. Virgin Holidays takes 120,000 holidaymakers to the Caribbean each year.
