The service will resume in autumn 2022, the airline confirmed.

“Our Manchester-Barbados services are currently operating four times per week and will continue to do so for the rest of the winter 2021 schedule,” Virgin said.

“We remain committed to serving this Caribbean route from our home in the north and expect to resume flights in autumn 2022 after the summer pause.”

The airline said the current situation was “a dynamic time for international travel”.

“We apologise for the inconvenience caused to affected customers due to travel in summer 2022 and will be contacting them in the coming days with their options, including the choice to convert their booking to a voucher, request a full refund, or rebook for a new travel date, to another destination if they wish, all the way up until 30 April 2023.”

Virgin was also due to start a Manchester-Montego Bay route on 6 November, but this will now be delayed until autumn 2022 due to health restrictions in Jamaica.