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Virgin Atlantic’s big announcements for 2022 are not over yet.
The British carrier has announced it will be jetting off to the paradise destinations of Maldives and Turks and Caicos in 2023.
“We couldn’t be more thrilled to add these two exotic new routes to our flying portfolio,” said Juha Jarvinen, chief commercial officer at Virgin Atlantic. “We know our customers will be over the moon with the introduction of these new destinations, both offering something unique for travellers looking to either simply relax or explore a new corner of the world.”
Here’s what we know about Virgin Atlantic’s exotic network expansion.
Of most interest to those based in the U.S. will be the launch of the 3-times-weekly nonstop service from London Heathrow (LHR) to Malé (MLE).
When the route launches on October 22, 2023, you’ll be able to hop on a Virgin Atlantic plane from Atlanta (ATL), Austin (AUS), Boston (BOS), Las Vegas (LAS), Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA), New York (JFK), Orlando (MCO), San Francisco (SFO), Seattle (SEA), Tampa (TPA), or Washington-Dulles (IAD) and head all the way to Maldives with a change of plane at London Heathrow (LHR).
While you can already fly 1-stop itineraries to Maldives from the U.S. with several other carriers, the addition of Virgin Atlantic’s route means you’ll have even more choice when it comes to how you get there, as well as a new way to spend your Virgin Points.
Tickets will go on sale on November 30, 2022.
As for Turks and Caicos, the twice-weekly service to Providenciales (PLS) will start later in the season on November 14, 2023, with tickets coming on sale from January 11, 2023.
Both routes will be operated by the airline’s fleet of Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner jets which have 31 lie-flat seats in Upper Class (business class), 35 seats in premium economy, and 192 in economy.
Bottom Line: This latest announcement comes towards the end of what has been an exciting year for Virgin Atlantic with its 2 new routes to Austin (AUS) and Tampa (TPA) already launched, bringing its total number of U.S. destinations served to 12. For everything you need to know about what it’s like to fly this British carrier, check out our full guide to Virgin Atlantic.
From late 2023, it will be possible to fly Virgin Atlantic all the way to the Maldives from the U.S. via a stop in London.
With that, there’s nothing much left to say other than reiterate the words of Virgin Atlantics’s Juha Jarvinen: “Nothing sets our hearts soaring like a new destination to explore, so, with two about join our network, there’s only really one question. Where to first?”
