Virgin Atlantic Cuts Flights to Austin

After nearly two years, Virgin Atlantic will be cutting its flight from London Heathrow to Austin. The airline confirmed the route cancellation in a statement to AirlineGeeks on Friday.

“Following a network review, Virgin Atlantic plans to suspend services between London Heathrow and Austin from the beginning of 2024. The airline’s route to and from Austin has been proudly operating since May 2022, but following a persistent softening in corporate demand, specifically the tech sector, the airline has taken this difficult decision,” the statement said.

Virgin Atlantic also added that affected customers will be provided options, including a full refund. The last flight will be Jan. 7, 2024, according to the airline.

Over the last several years, Austin has seen a surge in traffic. In 2022, the airport set another record for traffic with 21 million passengers enplanements, beating the 2019 record, according to KXAN Austin.

A handful of European airlines have launched service to Austin in recent years, including British Airways, KLM, and Lufthansa. Per Cirium Diio data, British Airways is the only international carrier to maintain daily flights in Austin.

Additional Network Changes

Virgin Atlantic is also making a handful of other network tweaks, too. For the Summer 2024 season, the U.K.-based airline will add additional frequency on its London Heathrow-Miami service, upping to 14 flights per week from 11.

The airline’s London Heathrow-Barbados flight will go from 11 to 14 weekly flights as well between Jan. 10, 2024, and March 29, 2024. Its seasonal Dubai flights will also go to a daily service.

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Ryan Ewing

Ryan founded AirlineGeeks.com back in February 2013 and has amassed considerable experience in the aviation sector. His work has been featured in several publications and news outlets, including CNN, WJLA, CNET, and Business Insider. During his time in the industry, he's worked in roles pertaining to airport/airline operations while holding a B.S. in Air Transportation Management from Arizona State University along with an MBA. Ryan has experience in several facets of the industry from behind the yoke of a Cessna 172 to interviewing airline industry executives. Ryan works for AirlineGeeks' owner FLYING Media, spearheading coverage in the commercial aviation space.

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