Virgin Atlantic has announced that it will launch flights from London Heathrow to St Vincent in June 2021.
The twice-weekly service will mark the first direct flight from Europe to the Caribbean island, and will be operated by an A330-300 aircraft with 31 Upper Class, 48 Premium and 185 Economy seats. Tickets will go on sale on November 24, 2020.
The airline stated that the service aims to cater to both those travelling to reunite with family and sunseekers wanting to explore St Vincent and the 32 islands that make up the Grenadines.
The airline describes the Caribbean nation as fitting for those looking for a luxury break, eco adventure, scuba diving or sailing voyage thanks to its ‘yacht-filled harbours, chic private isles, coral reefs and dramatic volcanic landscapes’.
St Vincent and the Grenadines is currently exempt from the FCO’s advice against all non-essential international travel, meaning that travellers are not required to quarantine upon return to the UK.
Those travelling from the UK to St Vincent and the Grenadines must, however, present a negative PCR test taken by a certified or accredited laboratory within five days of arrival. They will also be retested on arrival and must quarantine for five days in a tourism authority approved hotel.
Juha Jarvinen, Chief Commercial Officer at Virgin Atlantic, commented:
“We’re delighted to launch the first flight from Europe to St Vincent and the Grenadines with our new twice weekly service planned to launch from June 2021.
“St Vincent and the Grenadines as well as the Caribbean region as a whole, represent an extremely exciting opportunity for us. With many islands implementing rigorous Covid-19 protocols including testing before arrival and a short quarantine period for visitors, the islands are open for tourism and are a haven for travellers in search of sun.”
Glen Beache, CEO, St Vincent and the Grenadines Tourism Authority, added:
“The government and people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines are extremely pleased to welcome Virgin Atlantic to our shores. It is only fitting that the most diverse destination in the Caribbean works with one of the best airlines in Europe.
“This partnership will not only change the way in which potential visitors look at us, but it will also play a big role in the number of times the diaspora visit their home yearly. The arrival of Virgin Atlantic will have a positive and lasting effect on the product that is St Vincent and the Grenadines.”
Virgin Atlantic is currently operating flights to 15 destinations from London Heathrow including New York JFK, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Barbados, Johannesburg and Delhi. The airline also resumed services to Antigua and Grenada last month, and said that further routes will be added throughout 2021.
