Suspect MCO has been launched, as whilst the flights are not cash positive (from likely forecasted loads) they help a lot with liquidity which given VS's financial situation, combined with the low oil price and planes sitting on the ground are worth running. Remember if the LON-MCO flights are running; VS claims there is no obligation to refund customers cancelling by choice in their eyes. VS during the summer peak op'd 3x LGW-MCO services with a 747. Rebook all these passengers onto a single 787; you may get an OK load turn up (Particuarly with some bookings from the Manchester load transferring down) but save a very good amount of extra liquidity from leaving the airline and you may find its in VS's financial interest to start the service up again.
VS have told the travel trade that refunds on this route will be in line with ticket rules, so non refundable tickets will only qualify for rebooking on this route and not a cash refund. Sure you will get some pax that argue for a refund due to the airport change, but in all odds, you'll probably save off 500 pax (on non-refundable tkts) a day that can't be borthered fighting after a while & will rebook for a later date - keeping the revenue within the airline.
Could all be wrong about this. All views from an 'armchair CEO'. Working in the infrastructure PE world so could get their motives completely wrong here. But this is the FAQ that I found:
Your Customer is due to travel to Orlando on 20th July but does not want to go. Can they have a refund?Virgin Atlantic understands the difficulties that the Covid-19 crisis poses to our customers with upcoming travel plans and is offering as much flexibility as possible. We’re helping customers with upcoming travel plans to rebook on an alternative date free-of-charge, with the option to change their destination, and even change the names on the booking, all the way until 30th September 2022. Where a passenger opts not to travel due to the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) advice or 14-day quarantine rules, if the flight is still operating, then the Conditions of Carriage, which are published on the website here, provide re-booking as the available option. Refunds continue to be permitted as per fare rules on flexible and fully refundable tickets and should be submitted though the usual channels, such as BSP link.