Virgin Atlantic expands Florida network with Heathrow-Tampa route

Virgin Atlantic is launching a new direct route from London Heathrow (LHR) to Tampa International Airport (TPA), Florida in winter 2022, continuing its transatlantic expansion.

The route will launch on November 3, 2022 and will initially be operated four times a week before increasing to a daily route from November 28. The service comes on top of Virgin Atlantic flights to Orlando and Miami in Florida.

“Florida is very much a firm favourite for our customers ever since our first flight to Miami back in 1986,” said Juha Jarvinen, Chief Commercial Officer at Virgin Atlantic in a press release on July 6, 2022. “With the popular theme parks and the stunning beaches of St Pete and Clearwater within easy reach, we know it’s an area our customers will love to explore.”

The British airline said its holidays division will be expanding its portfolio with hotels and fly drive vacations in the region to capitalize on growing leisure travel.

The connection also represents the first direct route between TPA and LHR.

“Not only does this create another Tampa-London option for our leisure travellers, but there’s a huge upside for our thriving business community to now have a direct connection to the world’s premier business airport,” commented Joe Lopano, TPA Chief Executive Officer. “We expect this to be a popular route during what we know will be a very busy winter travel season at TPA.”