Virgin Atlantic is postponing the launch of its new route between London Heathrow and São Paulo to summer 2025.

The airline announced the new service in June this year and had been poised to commence services to the Brazilian city from 13 May 2024. But following a review of its summer network, Virgin has pushed back the launch of its first South American route.

“This is not a decision we have taken lightly and we’d like to apologise for any inconvenience caused,” said the airline in a statement. Bookings affected by cancellations will be updated in GDS systems on Saturday 18 November 2023, it noted.

Last month, Virgin announced the end of its service between London Heathrow and Austin, Texas, due to softening corporate demand. Launched in May 2022, Virgin’s last flight between the cities will operate on 7 January 2024.

In other recent schedule changes, the airline will increase capacity between London Heathrow and Miami from 11 flights per week to twice-daily from summer 2024 and reintroduce a seasonal, three-times-weekly Manchester-Las Vegas service.

Later this month, the airline will operate the first transatlantic flight fully powered by sustainable aviation fuel.