Virgin Atlantic Eyes Barbados as Key Hub for Caribbean Expansion
Virgin Atlantic (VS) is considering Barbados as a strategic hub for expanding its services to other Caribbean destinations, as revealed by Chief Commercial Officer Juha Jarvinen. With plans to utilize Bridgetown as a regional hub, Virgin Atlantic aims to strengthen its network in the Caribbean and enhance local connectivity.
Currently offering up to 15 weekly services to Bridgetown, with 11 from London Heathrow and four from Manchester International, Virgin Atlantic is strategically rebuilding its presence in Barbados post-pandemic. The airline envisions Barbados playing a pivotal role in its regional expansion plans.
“We believe that Barbados has, step by step, developed its position in the region and is the strongest island to build that regional hub on, and we are committed to continuing growing that together with the Barbados government and the people of Barbados,” stated Juha Jarvinen during an event marking the airline’s 25th anniversary of flying to Bridgetown.
Virgin Atlantic has already taken steps toward building local connectivity by introducing twice-weekly inter-island flights between Bridgetown and St Vincent, as well as Bridgetown and Grenada. The airline plans to increase these services, showcasing its commitment to further growth in collaboration with Barbados.
While the specific destinations for expansion were not disclosed, an announcement for the 2024/25 period is anticipated in the coming months. Virgin Atlantic’s existing Caribbean destinations include Antigua, Montego Bay (Jamaica), Nassau International (The Bahamas), Grenada, St. Vincent, and a seasonal service to St. Lucia Hewanorra, in addition to its strong presence in Barbados.
The commitment to Barbados as a regional hub aligns with the high demand observed from visitors, especially from the United Kingdom. With 150,000 out of 400,000 visitors to Barbados between January and August 2023 originating from the UK, the island continues to be a significant market for Virgin Atlantic.