Hi,

I have just received an e-mail from Virgin Atlantic telling me that, due to issues with their aircraft availability (related to short supply of RR engine parts), they have decided to cancel all flights to Cape Town in April & May next year. My flight was scheduled for April 2025.

They have only offered options to either receive a refund, or change to a different route (with any cost difference payable by me).

As far as I am aware, under EU261 (or the UK equivalent following Brexit), the airline has to offer an option to rebook me on equivalent flights with a different carrier to/from the same destination also. We have non-cancellable hotels booked, so would not be looking for any change of dates. There are equivalent flights available on the same dates at suitable times, offered by British Airways.

I am looking for advice to understand from the better educated, if my interpretation of the regulations is correct, before I contact Virgin. I have found a similar interpretation of these rules on the CAA website, https://www.caa.co.uk/passengers-and...cancellations/

Thank you in advance for any assistance.

Kind regards,
Chris