Virgin Atlantic has dropped plans to fly to Barbados from Manchester next summer, weeks after deciding to delay its Montego Bay service from the airport until next year.

The airline had planned to fly to Montego Bay from 6 November, but the service has been pushed back to November 2022.

In an email to agents, Virgin apologised for its decision not to operate summer flights to Barbados from Manchester next summer.

The airline said: “It remains a dynamic time for international travel and we’re continually reviewing our flying schedules.”

It added: “As we consider our longer-term flying programme, we’ve taken the decision to suspend our Manchester-Barbados flying during summer 2022, reflecting the focus of customer demand that we’re seeing for Barbados as a winter sun destination.

“Our Manchester-Barbados services are currently operating four times per week and will continue to do so for the rest of the winter 2021 schedule.

“We remain committed to serving this Caribbean route from our home in the north and expect to resume flights in autumn 2022 after the summer pause.”

Passengers booked to fly next summer from Manchester-Barbados with the airline can reschedule, apply for a refund or fly via Heathrow.  

Virgin Atlantic said the Manchester-Montego Bay cancellations were made at the end of September, at a time when Jamaica was restricted for holidaymakers because of COVID, including FCDO advice against all but essential travel.

Addressing changes to the Barbados route, the spokesman said: “We apologise for the inconvenience caused to affected customers due to travel in summer 2022 and will be contacting them in the coming days with their options, including the choice to convert their booking to a voucher, request a full refund, or rebook for a new travel date, to another destination if they wish, all the way up until 30 April 2023.

“This week we restarted New York-JFK and Orlando services from Manchester, returning again to our US heartland with fully vaccinated international visitors, to be followed by Atlanta services from 2 December.

“Barbados and Islamabad services are also in operation three times per week, as part of a unique intercontinental network from Manchester.”