Virgin Atlantic will launched direct services between Manchester and Barbados yesterday, Sunday 13 November. The weekly service will be operated by a Boeing 747-400 as part of the airlines continued expansion drive.  Virgin Atlantic’s Manchester fleet has recently been fitted with the award-winning Upper Class Suite which consists of a reclining leather seat for take off, a place to sit and eat a meal opposite your partner, the longest fully flat bed in the world with a proper mattress for sleeping on, a private onboard bar to drink at with your friends and four limousines per return trip.

Sir Richard Branson, chairman of Virgin Atlantic, commented;

“I am very pleased that we are continuing to add to the Manchester flying programme along with our significant expansion drive across the network. I am confident that the new weekly service to Barbados will prove to be extremely popular with our passengers. We also added extra services to Orlando this year taking it to an all year round service 7 days a week. We have more than doubled our cabin crew from 60 seasonal Manchester based crew to 140 year round Manchester based cabin crew.

“The introduction of Virgin Atlantic’s Upper Class Suite has received great reviews and won market share from our competitors. The extra capacity in our Premium Economy cabin will also give more passengers a chance to experience a more intimate cabin with larger seat, priority boarding and baggage, welcome drink and newspaper.”

Justin Bell, Station Manger for Virgin Atlantic at Manchester Airport, said;

“Our expansion at Manchester means that Virgin Atlantic’s award-winning product and more of our destinations are accessible for passengers living in the region.  We are sure that Barbados will be as popular as Orlando has proven to be for the last nine years.”

Flight VS077 will depart from Manchester International airport at 10.25 and arrive at Grantley Adams International airport, Barbados at 15.05.  The return flight VS078 will depart Barbados at 19.25, arriving into Manchester at 07.25 the following morning
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