It's official: Virgin Atlantic is coming to Tampa Bay!  On Wednesday, the airline announced new year-round service with plans to initially fly four times a week before increasing to daily flights year-round beginning November 28. 

Offering more than 190,000 seats each year, Virgin Atlantic will be the only airline to directly connect the Tampa Bay region with London’s hub airport, London Heathrow. The new service will offer easy, seamless connections for customers traveling to and from Virgin Atlantic's worldwide destinations and partner networks via London Heathrow.

“We are delighted to continue our expansion in the US with this new daily service to Tampa, Florida offering even more choice for customers on both sides of the Atlantic to connect between the US and the UK,” said Juha Jarvinen, Chief Commercial Officer at Virgin Atlantic. “Florida is very much a firm favorite for our customers ever since our first flight to Miami back in 1986. With the popular theme parks and the stunning beaches of St. Pete and Clearwater within easy reach, we know it’s an area our customers will love to explore.”

Tampa International Airport CEO Joe Lopano said he’s thrilled to welcome Virgin Atlantic while celebrating the Airport’s first nonstop service to Heathrow.

“Not only does this create another Tampa-London option for our leisure travelers, but there’s a huge upside for our thriving business community to now have a direct connection to the world’s premier business airport," Lopano said. "We expect this to be a popular route during what we know will be a very busy winter travel season at TPA.”   

Flights are set to go on sale on July 13 at www.virginatlantic.com with return Economy fares starting around $524 per person.

Across the Tampa Bay area, local business and tourism leaders celebrated the new route as a massive win for the region.

“This is wonderful news,” said Chris Steinocher, President & CEO of the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce.  "We know based on the latest economic studies that a daily nonstop European route brings in a more than $154 million impact and creates approximately 1,200 jobs in our region. Virgin Atlantic’s Heathrow-TPA is a big win for everyone, and we look forward to working with our partners to ensure this route is a great success."

Visit Tampa Bay President & CEO Santiago Corrada said the flight will no doubt be a boost to the local tourism industry.

"Tampa’s reputation as a top cultural, culinary and urban destination is well known across the pond, and we’re excited to welcome even more U.K. visitors to our beautiful city and region. We will continue to work with TPA and our other tourism and economic development partners to bring in more British passengers aboard Virgin Atlantic," said Corrada.

Visit St. Pete/Clearwater President & CEO Steve Hayes echoed the route's importance to the region's economy.

“Visitors from the U.K. love our beaches, weather and warm hospitality, and this new nonstop connection provides another convenient avenue to increase the impact of U.K. travelers to our local economy,” he said. "We look forward to seeing Virgin Atlantic’s regular appearance in our skies and welcoming our U.K. friends to our area."

Tampa Bay EDC President & CEO Craig Richard added, "With Heathrow Airport being TPA’s largest unserved international route, this new London route aboard Virgin Atlantic could be a game-changer for both our leisure and business travelers. The Tampa Bay EDC puts its full support behind this partnership and we look forward to the great economic benefits that will surely follow."

Tampa Bay Chamber President & CEO Bob Rohrlack said new service into one of the world’s premier business airports is good news for the approximately 100 UK-based companies that have business operations in the Tampa Bay area. 

"As our region grows, this kind of world-class connection will be key to sustaining a robust business community that thrives on international commerce," said Rohrlack.

Tampa will be Virgin Atlantic's third destination in Florida behind Miami and Orlando. Visit Florida President & CEO Dana Young said the new Tampa route is a win for the entire state.

“In 2021, Florida's overseas market share reached nearly 45 percent, the highest any state has ever achieved,” said Young. "This new Virgin Atlantic route will play an integral role in continuing our growth and increasing the economic impact that international travelers have on the Tampa Bay region and the state." 

With Virgin Atlantic's new service to Heathrow, TPA will be one of only four airports in the U.S. to offers passengers a choice between London's two main airports. British Airways currently serves London Gatwick (LGW) with flights from TPA. Only New York's JFK, Boston's Logan International (BOS) and Orlando International Airport (MCO) currently offer service to both London airports.

Route facts

Tampa International will celebrate the arrival of the Airport’s very first regularly scheduled A350 service as Finnair, the national carrier of Finland, is scheduled to touch down in Tampa this week. The airline will be operating the Tampa to Frankfurt route on behalf of Eurowings Discover beginning May 31 as part of a wet lease agreement during the peak demand summer travel season. 

The flight, which operates six times per week, Tuesday through Sunday, will retain the Eurowings Discover flight number, but will be operated by Finnair and its flight crews. Passengers boarding the Finnair A350 can look forward to a high-class travel experience with the same food and beverage service, onboard shop and in-flight entertainment options found on normal Eurowings Discover flights. Guests will be served by a Finnair crew and can choose from three travel classes: Economy, Premium Economy and Business Class. The aircraft will operate under Finnair livery and will not be identifiable as Eurowings Discover flight from the outside. Passengers will still receive all the benefits associated with flying on a Lufthansa Group/Star Alliance carrier as before. 

As a young airline still in its ramp-up phase, Eurowings Discover decided to supplement its still small fleet and limited number of crew, by leasing a total of three A350 planes from Finnair. The aircraft will be operating on routes between Eurowings Discover destinations in North America, and the airline’s two hubs in Frankfurt and Munich, Germany. The move will help the airline meet expected demand and offer reliable service this summer. 

Only once before has a scheduled A350 landed at Tampa International Airport -- a Delta flight chartered by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Finnair A350 is scheduled to operate at TPA though the end of October, when Eurowings Discover will resume operating their flights.

Off we go

Prior to my trip to Switzerland, the most I knew about the country or the Alps were those Swiss Miss pudding bars from the ‘80s and the yodeling guy on the Price is Right.

Now, after one short visit, I want to move there. It’s a beautiful country with bustling metros, quiet countryside scenes, majestic mountains and alpine lakes, and warm, friendly people.

I’ll begin with Edelweiss Air. First, you couldn’t ask for a nicer and more pleasant flight crew and onboard experience in the A340. That’s a good thing, because the flight is almost nine hours there and almost 12 hours back.

If you can swing the upgrade to the Economy Max seats, it’s definitely worth it, but all of the seating is far roomier than your usual U.S. domestic flight. (Pro Tip 1: Try to be tired on the flight out so you can sleep on the overnight leg. It’s tough because you fly into the sunrise and it comes up around halfway into the flight, or 3 a.m., Tampa time. You want to be able to sleep through that so you can hit the ground running!)

Our trip was in mid-March, or “Shoulder Season,” as it’s known in Switzerland. We were fortunate and had near perfect weather with just one morning of drizzly rain, and four of the seven days were sunny with highs in the upper 50s and lows in the upper 30s (Fahrenheit of course – when you’re there, it will be in Celsius). I wouldn’t hesitate at all to travel in this timeframe since it’s far less busy than other times in the year.

A tale of two cities

We landed in Zurich on Saturday morning and walked into the only airport I’ve been to in a while that rivals TPA on cleanliness and ease. This is a theme we discovered throughout Switzerland. Clearing customs took about an hour for non-EU passport holders, so you may want to get coffee before boarding the train to the customs area. Proof of COVID vaccination was required for the flight and for entry into Switzerland (a recent negative test could be substituted), otherwise there were very few restrictions other than wearing a mask on transit.

An easy walk to the in-airport train station had us on our way to the first destination: Lausanne. The national train system in Switzerland is a marvel and runs with remarkable precision and comfort. Not one train during our trip was late or early, just right on time … every. Single. Time. (Pro Tip 2: When boarding longer trains, make sure you aren’t separated too far from the restaurant car so you can grab an easy snack or beer.)

Lausanne is a breathtaking city right on Lake Geneva (known as Lac Leman locally) with a view of the French Alps across the lake. The town itself is busy, but not overwhelmingly. It’s actually a tale of two cities of sorts. On the shores of the lake, which is where our hotel was, life moves actively but leisurely as expected in a vacation area. However, a quick ride on the metro funicular takes you into the business district and Old Town where it all moves a little faster and you can find more clubs and bars than ever needed – if you’re into such things.

Our trip to Old Town was mostly for one reason: fondue! We went to the oldest fondue spot in the city, Pinte Besson, for our foray into the cheesy goodness. There are many varieties, but we went largely traditional with the bread, potatoes, and other small accoutrements to go along. You'll likely be full for awhile. (Pro Tip 2: Nothing says “tourist” more than eating fondue outside of the fall/winter timeframe since the locals consider it a cold-weather treat. Get it anyway.)

Day-tripping near France

From Lausanne we day-tripped to Vevey and Montreaux, as well as Geneva and Evian, France across the lake. Near Vevey is the Vinorama, which as the name implies is a world of wines. The region is Switzerland’s largest wine producing area and you can sample and dine on as much as you want here.

We headed back to Zurich midweek for the remainder of our trip. One of the best ideas from Dori was to do a walking tour with a guide from the local tourism agency. The tour was free, but tips were expected at the end. (Pro Tip 3: Outside of this, tipping was not expected anywhere else. Service workers are paid on a non-tip basis, so at the most it’s considered pleasant to round up to the next whole dollar/franc.) The walking tour was a great way to get our bearings, learn the history, and identify areas we wanted to spend more time. We also day-tripped to Chur from Zurich. Chur is one of the oldest permanent settlements in Switzerland and was fun to explore for the day.

Good eats

Food in Zurich and other large cities runs the spectrum of all ethnicities and price points. You can find late-night doners, light baked goods, fine dining and everything in between. The coffee culture in Switzerland is a big deal and they drink coffee all day and into the night. Order it Swiss-style which is a long espresso with a delicious sweetened creamer – somewhere between a latte and a flat white. We were there on St. Patrick’s Day, so we made our way to and English Pub near the hotel for some burgers and fries or “chips.” (Pro Tip 4: You’ll get a red and yellow bottle with fries and – fair warning – the yellow is mayonnaise, not mustard! Like Jules says in Pulp Fiction, they drown ‘em in it. It’s worth a try as the mayo there is a little different than here in the U.S.)

Despite being in the EU, Switzerland does not use the Euro and the local currency is still the Swiss franc (CHF). The country can be a little on the pricier side as the franc is strong to the dollar and the economy there is generally a little more expensive. However, there are work arounds particularly for things like breakfast and lunch. Across the country there is a network of stores called CoOp and Migros. You can buy high quality food items there including breads, meats, cheeses, beers and wines and simply dine al fresco at any number of places in the cities – just like the locals do. Another tip: Don’t buy bottled water. All of the cities have ample free water sources and the water is essentially what you’d buy in the bottle anyway.

Heading home

As we prepared to return home, a negative COVID test was required for the flight as well as re-entry to the U.S. Several of our friends gave us a hot tip prior the trip about an online option for the test so we didn’t have to find a clinic and worry about how much it would cost and turnaround time. The tests we got were by Abbott and Dori picked them up on Amazon prior to the trip and brought them along. It’s a basic at-home kit many of us are familiar with now with the exception of the process needing to be monitored and proctored by an online assistant. We simply followed the directions on the package and from the proctor and 15 minutes later we were both clear to come home. The test comes with an app to download so you can show proof at the airport.

The trip home is a little different than the trip there. It’s not only longer thanks to the headwind going west, but it’s in the daylight for all 11 hours. It’s difficult to sleep, but that’s not a bad thing because you’ll be nice and tired when you get home to your own bed and that will help fight off the jetlag. However, again, the onboard Edelweiss experience from the service to the food is exceptional. Whether it’s back to Switzerland or to connect somewhere else, we can’t wait to fly with them again.

Ready to book a flight on Edelweiss Air? Click here. (Note: Edelweiss flights from the U.S. are booked via SWISS.)

The new rules will require all foreign nationals arriving in the country to show proof of being fully vaccinated before entering at land or air borders. Restrictions barring non-essential travel from more than 30 countries into the U.S. have been in place for much of the past year and a half, keeping most of TPA’s international service halted throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Like other airports around the country, TPA has been in a holding pattern with many of our international airline partners for much of this year as we’ve eagerly awaited U.S. guidance on the safe reopening of borders,” TPA CEO Joe Lopano said. “Restoring nonstop connections with Europe is critical to our Tampa Bay area economy, businesses and tourism industry, as well as reconnecting families. It will be a very welcome sight to see more international carriers pulling up to our gates once again.”

Under the guidance released by White House, international travelers will need to show proof of their vaccination status to board an airplane to the U.S. and will need to have received a negative COVID-19 test result within 72 hours before departure. There will be very limited exceptions to this vaccination requirement for certain non-U.S. citizens who are not immigrants, including children under the age of 18.

Fully vaccinated air passengers, regardless of citizenship, will continue to be required to show a negative pre-departure COVID-19 test taken no more than three days before they board their flight to the United States. For passengers who are not fully vaccinated, the rules will tighten to require a test taken no more than one day before departing to the United States. Unvaccinated Americans must show a negative test result taken within one day before departure and proof of having purchased a COVID-19 test kit for use post-arrival. 

Some of TPA’s international service – such as Copa’s flights to Panama City, Southwest’s flights to Havana, and JetBlue’s flights to Cancun – have been operating for months due to higher shares of U.S. nationals onboard. Foreign nationals have faced more strict hurdles by the U.S. government, but under the new guidance, airlines can now plan more solid dates for restoring connections to Tampa Bay.

Lufthansa’s Eurowings Discover service between TPA and Frankfurt will launch Dec. 16, which the carrier announced earlier this month. British Airways is tentatively scheduled to restore its Tampa-London service on Nov. 1, though that date could be delayed slightly as the airline revises its plan following the White House guidance. Edelweiss Air plans to restart its Tampa-Zurich service to March 2022.

Air Canada, which currently serves Toronto from TPA, is also expecting to resume service between Tampa and Montreal, Ottawa and Halifax over the next two months. WestJet will recommence Toronto service on November 11^th.

Tampa International Airport served 15,715 international passengers this August, down 84.6% compared to 2019. TPA’s Air Service Development team continues to be in close contact with various European and other foreign carriers as it looks to growing its international service connections. The team recently returned from the World Routes conference in Milan, where TPA representatives held multiple discussions with air carriers and airport partners about future service opportunities.

For more information and dates regarding TPA’s international nonstop flights, go to https://www.tampaairport.com/international-nonstop-destinations.

The four-times-per-week service, set to begin Dec. 16, is Eurowings’ first flight to the United States and is a clear signal of the strength of the Tampa Bay market.

“We’re absolutely thrilled to welcome Eurowings to Tampa Bay and to restore service to Europe and beyond,” said TPA CEO Joe Lopano. “This is a critical connection for both European travelers coming to Florida and Floridians looking to travel the world. Frankfurt is one of Europe’s largest hubs and truly opens up the rest of the world. And, Florida, as we know, is the vacation destination of choice for so many across the pond.”

Eurowings Discover’s launch announcement comes shortly after receiving notice that travel restrictions to the U.S. had been lifted. The airline decided to launch its first U.S. flight ahead of other U.S. destinations, which will follow in 2022. Lufthansa Group reports that its passenger airlines have seen a boom in demand for U.S. travel since the removal of restrictions for vaccinated Europeans.

Eurowings Discover, which started operating this summer, will offer flights to Tampa on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays year-round. The flights will be approximately 9 hours and 10 minutes from Tampa to Frankfurt and 10 hours and 55 minutes from Frankfurt to Tampa (dang headwinds!).

While the airline will gear itself towards the leisure market, it will also be well-suited for business travelers. The Airbus A330 aircraft used for this flight will have more lie-flat business class seating than the previous Lufthansa A340 operation, which served TPA prior to COVID-19.

“We are excited that Lufthansa Group and Eurowings Discover has chosen TPA as its first U.S. route,” said Alex Heiter, TPA’s Director of Air Service Development. “This decision reaffirms the Tampa Bay area’s attractiveness for international visitors and provides a fresh brand geared towards the needs of many of those customers. In addition, Eurowings Discover will continue to provide a strong business class and premium economy offering, with seamless connectivity into the existing Lufthansa network at the Frankfurt hub.”

This flight will be marketed on the Lufthansa website as a “Codeshare” flight, meaning passengers will continue to enjoy Lufthansa loyalty plan benefits and efficient transfers onto connecting Lufthansa services at Frankfurt.

TPA CEO Joe Lopano, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor and other community partners kicked off the celebration of the inaugural May 23 departure of Delta’s first of seasonal nonstop flights to Amsterdam from Tampa International Airport.

“This type of international flight has air service has been a top priority for us,” Lopano said. “Not only do these flights allow our residents to explore the world, they bring the world to us. That’s good for tourism and business growth in general.”

The event was especially exciting as it was Castor’s first airport appearance as Tampa Mayor. Castor, who will serve on the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority Board during her term, praised TPA for being “the best airport in the world” and for working to bring more international service to the Tampa Bay region.

“There are actually businesses that moved to Tampa and brought their families here just because of this airport and how easy it is to navigate,” Castor said. “I would like to thank everyone who played a role in bringing this flight here. I know it takes up to five years to bring an international flight here so it’s not something that happens overnight.”

Amsterdam adds a fourth European destination to TPA’s route map and provides an easy gateway to Delta’s vast network of worldwide connections. The Netherlands capital was one of the three European cities TPA targeted for international air service development in late 2016.

Delta will use a 211-seat Boeing 767-300 for the flights, which will operate four to seven times per week, depending on the time of year and travel peaks.

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport is among Europe’s busiest airports and one of Delta’s largest European hubs, connecting passengers to destinations across Europe, the Middle East, India, Africa and Asia via Delta’s partner airlines Air France, KLM, Alitalia and Jet Airways.

“Speaking on behalf of my more than 80,000 Delta colleagues around the world, we couldn’t be more thrilled to be growing our presence in this beautiful city,” said Tori Forbes-Roberts, Delta’s Vice President of Reservation Sales and Customer Care. “The Tampa-to-Amsterdam service is done in partnership with our Dutch friends at KLM Royal Dutch Airlines who call Amsterdam home and Air France, with whom we our celebrating this month our 10-year anniversary of our joint venture partnership across the transatlantic. This partnership means we’re able to offer our shared customers access to more destinations together than we could on our own.”

In the past two years, TPA has added more than 45 new nonstop domestic and international routes. Since Lopano arrived at TPA in 2011, the Airport has seen more than 150 percent increase in international passengers with the addition of nonstop service to Zurich, Panama City, Frankfurt, and other destinations. The international visitors have contributed to the Airport’s passenger growth, which is expected to surpass a record 22 million passengers in 2019.

With the Amsterdam addition, TPA now offers passengers access to European travel on all three major airline alliances, with Delta’s SkyTeam added to Lufthansa’s Star Alliance and British Airways’ Oneworld. The alliances benefit those with frequent flyer status or mileage rewards, as well as providing an easier process to reach more international destinations.

To book a flight between Tampa and Amsterdam, visit www.delta.com.

Attendees ranged from community members to international travelers who are thrilled about the new route.

“Great choice Delta Air Lines! Amsterdam is the perfect gateway to these European cities requested and beyond,” said Andrew Abdale, passing through TPA upon his return from a different flight.

The new destination, announced on August 22, 2018, was one of three European cities TPA targeted for international air service development in late 2016. The new seasonal route aboard Delta TPA passengers an easy connection to Europe and beyond.

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport is among Europe’s busiest airports and one of Delta’s largest European hubs, connecting passengers to destinations across Europe, the Middle East, India, Africa and Asia via Delta’s partner airlines Air France, KLM, Alitalia and Jet Airways.

On the evening of Thursday, May 23, the Delta 767 will roar towards the sky following a final celebration with cake, a ribbon cutting ceremony, and yes, more cheese.