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Flying is about to feel very different for travellers with Virgin Atlantic thanks to a major change set to transform how passengers spend hours in the air

Passengers flying with Virgin Atlantic will start to notice a major change the moment they board. The airline has confirmed it will begin rolling out a new onboard service that promises to change the in-flight experience entirely.

Installation of Starlink will begin on its Airbus A350 aircraft from May 2026, Virgin Atlantic has announced. It says the new amenity will deliver high-speed, low-latency internet from take-off to the moment you land – but there’s a catch.

It will be available to passengers completely free of charge as part of their journey. This means they can scroll social media, stream TV shows or films, and even make calls or send messages while cruising at 30,000ft.

The first flight to feature the service is expected to depart in early May on route VS153 from London Heathrow to New York JFK. Virgin Atlantic says this marks the beginning of a wider rollout across its long-haul fleet.

All Airbus A350 aircraft are expected to be equipped by early summer, according to the airline. Installation will then expand to Boeing 787 planes later in 2026, reaching around two-thirds of the fleet by the end of the year.

The remaining Airbus A330neo aircraft are set to follow, with full fleet coverage expected by 2027. According to Starlink, its low-Earth-orbit satellite network is designed to deliver faster and more reliable internet, even over remote areas like oceans.

Unlike traditional in-flight Wi-Fi, which relies on older satellite systems, Starlink offers significantly lower latency and higher speeds. According to Ookla, low-Earth-orbit satellite technology can deliver speeds comparable to fixed broadband in some cases.

Virgin Atlantic first announced the partnership in July 2025, becoming the first UK airline to commit to free, fleet-wide Starlink connectivity. The airline says Flying Club members will be able to access the service at no extra cost.

Passengers will be able to stream TV shows, make video calls and browse the internet on multiple devices simultaneously. According to International Air Transport Association, demand for onboard connectivity has surged in recent years, with more travellers expecting seamless internet access in the air.

Juha Järvinen, Chief Customer Officer at Virgin Atlantic, said: “We were the first UK airline to announce free, fleet-wide Starlink Wi-Fi, and from May, we’re starting to deliver it for our customers.” He added that the airline aims to achieve full connectivity across its fleet by 2027.

He said the move is part of a wider push to create a “brilliantly connected experience” for passengers. The airline believes the upgrade will allow customers to use their flight time more flexibly, whether for work or leisure.

Industry experts say reliable Wi-Fi is becoming a standard expectation rather than a luxury. According to research from Inmarsat, a majority of airline passengers consider onboard internet a key factor when choosing flights.

Virgin Atlantic’s move is seen as a major step forward in meeting that demand. With rollout beginning in just weeks, passengers could soon experience a new era of fully connected air travel.

LOATING on my back along the narrow channel fringed by mangroves, the gentle current pushes me onwards in the warm, clear waters.

This incredible natural lazy river just south of Tulum represents everything that is magical about the raw beauty of Mexico’s Riviera Maya.

The Muyil Lagoon — and the canals carved by the ancient Mayans — are the ultimate in relaxation.

There’s a serene calm as you glide along with water so sparkling and clear you can easily see the sandy bottom and spot small fish darting through the reeds.

On all sides, you’re surrounded by dense vegetation and the roots of red mangroves and beautiful orchids.

Deep in the heart of the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, our tour had started at the Muyil ruins.

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Quieter than the archaeological wonders at Chichen Itza or Tulum, it still has its stepped temple pyramids shaded by ancient trees and forests.

From there it was a thrilling boat ride over the Muyil and Chunyaxche freshwater lagoons before we were dropped off for our 40-minute lazy river ride.

Clambering out and along a boardwalk through the mangroves to return back to our boat, I was grateful for the water shoes we’d donned before our swim as the bleached wood was scorching hot in the sunshine.

We’d certainly earned a sunset cocktail back at our hotel — the TRS Yucatan, an all- inclusive 5H adults-only paradise in the heart of the Riviera Maya.

My ultra-modern room came complete with a minibar you can personalise with your favourite drinks, as well as a shaded terrace with plunge pool and hanging day bed.

But the lure of the multi-level infinity pool overlooking the beach was an easy way to tempt me away from my room, followed closely by the Ibiza vibes of the Helios beach club right on the soft sands of its private beach.

The TRS Yucatan is part of the Grand Palladium Resort and Spa and you can use the facilities across its nearby sister hotels, which tots up to a total of eight pools, 21 restaurants and 31 bars.

But the TRS Yucatan is the more premium of the hotels in the complex — top-shelf spirits and quality wines in the bars, and a butler caring for your every need in each of the small, luxury blocks.

The food is elevated too and you’d be missing out if you didn’t indulge at the El Gaucho Argentinian steak house or one of the other five restaurants serving Mexican, French, Italian and Caribbean cuisine exclusive to the adult-only hotel.

And while the lure of the multiple pools and 24/7 dining might mean you’re keen to stay put, it would be a shame to miss out on more natural wonders on the doorstep.

Just a ten-minute drive from the hotel is Akumal Bay, where snorkelling tours from the sandy shores reward you with multiple sightings of loggerhead and green turtles.

Grazing on the sea grasses in the calm bay and feeding among the reefs, the turtles are often joined by stingrays and a kaleidoscope of smaller fish.

Book as early in the day as you can, to beat the crowds and enjoy calmer waters.

We combined our early-morning snorkel with another unique Mayan natural wonder — a swim through one of the thousands of cenotes across the Riviera Maya.

These natural sinkholes occur when the limestone bedrock above underground rivers collapses, exposing the water below.

While some are large openings you can easily access, others involve swimming into underground caverns that in some cases can be vast.

We swam through a complex of incredible caves at Yaxmulito, a bit of a hidden gem and far less busy than some of the other popular cenotes in the area.

Its remote location means a host of wildlife to spot in the dense jungle, from spider monkeys and marmots in the trees to iguanas on the ground and even bats in the caves!

With a local guide to help us navigate through the maze of caverns, we swam through caves that were lit cleverly to illuminate the ancient limestone above us — squeezing between stalactite limestone columns that have formed over more than 10,000 years into tiny, unlit caverns.

While magical, some of the spaces were probably not ideal for anyone who is prone to claustrophobia.

Clambering out, we topped off a day in this natural paradise with a lunch of slow-cooked chicken marinated in spices and a hearty pork stew, served up with red rice, refried beans and handmade tortillas alongside delicious salads and salsas.

Served up in a rustic, open-air, thatched-roof building in the stunning jungle location and with a powerful margarita from the bar to wash it down, days don’t come much better.

EVEN more Brits will get to explore the delights of Montego Bay as Virgin Atlantic is upping its flight offerings.

Thousands more seats are being added to the airline’s schedule very soon making it much easier for holidaymakers to enjoy Jamaica’s sun and sea.

Jamaica is one of the Caribbean‘s most popular islands welcoming around 2.5million visitors every year.

Thanks to its natural beauty and incredible weather – it’s a hit with Brits too.

Now, Virgin Atlantic is boosting the number of its daily services from Heathrow Airport to Montego Bay.

Currently there are just four flights a week, but from June 1 there will be daily flights between the airports – meaning there will be over 15,000 more seats.

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One-way tickets in June with Virgin Atlantic start from £444.

These daily flights which take on average 10 hours and 15-minutes will end on October 24, 2026.

Montego Bay on north-west coast of Jamaica is the capital of the parish of Saint James and is one of the most popular tourist spots on the island.

Of course Brits flock there for its great weather and beautiful bays like Doctor’s Cave Beach.

It’s considered one of the most beautiful in the country with white sand and bright turquoise waters.

Aside from sunbathing and paddling, snorkelling is popular too as swimmers are likely to spot parrotfish, turtles, and small sharks.

Other top-rated beaches in the area include Cornwall Beach, Walter Fletcher Beach and Dead End Beach.

For those who want to explore island life, head to the Hip Strip which is filled with local restaurants, bars, shops, and there’s plenty of nightlife too.

Check out some of our favourite Caribbean holidays…

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Hotel Capriccio Mare, Dominican Republic

Facing the calm, crystal waters of the Caribbean Sea, Hotel Capriccio Mare looks like a bright white island villa. The hotel’s position on Bavaro’s coastline is perfect for exploring the popular resort town of Punta Cana. Whether it’s strolling the sands to grab a fresh coconut with a straw, or venturing out on a catamaran trip to Saona Island, this dreamy Caribbean resort is not one to miss.

BOOK HERE

Coconut Court Beach Hotel, Barbados

This friendly, family-run hotel is a slice of Caribbean paradise. This hotel sits smack-bang on a sugar-white beach with warm turquoise waters. Enjoy both the beaches of Barbados and its plethora of rum bars – there are about 1,500 of them on the island.

BOOK HERE

Sugar Bay Club, St Kitts

Set on the quiet side of St Kitts’ Frigate Bay, the boutique Sugar Bay Club offers superb value and wonderful views of the Atlantic Ocean. Staff are on hand to assist with island tours, from catamaran cruises to scenic railway excursions.

BOOK HERE

Antigua Yacht Club Marina Resort, Antigua

Amazing Antigua has 365 beaches – one for every day of the year – as well as a fascinating history. This resort in Falmouth Harbour is perfect for exploring the beautiful local area, including Pigeon Point, Nelson’s Dockyard and English Harbour.

BOOK HERE

Other activities around Montego Bay include scenic bamboo rafting tours on the Martha Brae River which head through the rainforest.

Around an hour away from Montego Bay is Dolphin Cove where there are dolphin experiences and dolphin spotting in natural lagoons.

Back on land, the Rose Hall Great House is another attraction tourists flock to.

It’s a restored 18th-century Georgian mansion and former sugar plantation.

The historic house museum offers tours throughout the day to visitors wanting to learn more about the former owner, the White Witch of Rose Hall.

When it comes to Jamaica, the best months to visit are December through to April when it is at its warmest at around 30C.

During this time it’s mostly dry with low humidity.

Here’s another Caribbean island to visit with floating bars…

For more on the Caribbean, the islands of Turks and Caicos is rising in popularity due to the conflict in the Middle East – Deputy Travel Editor Kara Godfrey visited in 2024 and reveals more on the beautiful destination…

She said: “One of the main draws are the stunning beaches – so beautiful in fact they are often named some of the best in the world.

“I spent my jet-lagged mornings walking the length of Grace Bay, with powder soft sand and quiet sunrises. Even in the evening they were just as beautiful with pink sunsets ending the day. And there is not just one, but two floating bars.

“One of the most popular is Captain Oak’s Tiki Bar, which has even welcomed celebs such as Drake and Jake Harlow Tourists have to pay $20 (£15.10) to get there by boat or jet ski.

“Otherwise there is the more vibey Noah’s Ark, which has a floating dance floor as well as sea swings.”

For more on the Caribbean, here’s the cheapest island that has direct UK flights, 30C winters and award-winning beaches.

And one Sun Writer stayed on the tiny Caribbean island with two of the world’s best beaches and pastel pink resorts.

Virgin River star Tim Matheson teased the upcoming eighth season of the Netflix show and the fallout from Doc’s decision to partner with Grace Valley

Warning – this article contains spoilers for Virgin River season 7.

Virgin River’s Tim Matheson has teased a turbulent path ahead for Vernon ‘Doc’ Mullins and his wife, Mayor Hope McCrea (portrayed by Annette O’Toole ) in the Netflix drama’s forthcoming eighth season.

The series made its comeback for its seventh run last Thursday (12th March), witnessing Mel Monroe (Alexandra Breckenridge) and Jack Sheridan’s (Martin Henderson) honeymoon period disrupted by fresh obstacles.

After Charmaine’s (Lauren Hammersley) abrupt vanishing, the pair encountered a difficult predicament when Marley (Rachel Drance) presented them with a chance to adopt her infant, before the baby’s father unexpectedly returned.

Simultaneously, Mel’s boss Doc carried on battling the medical board following the revocation of his licence for a dangerous yet life-preserving procedure, whilst competing hospital Grace Valley encroaches on his patch, reports the Express.

The season finale delivered a shock revelation, though, as Doc started contemplating a collaboration with Grace Valley despite his conflict with Dr Hayes (Kaj-Erik Eriksen), a move that enrages Hope.

In an exclusive conversation with Reach, Matheson verified that Virgin River’s confirmed eighth season will address the aftermath of their row directly from the outset.

“Well, it focuses a great deal on [that challenge] in season eight,” he revealed. “Like in any relationship there are changes and bumps and adjustments that need to be made. So, that continues on and it’s all about people finding their true path in life. And we all know that changes from day to day.

“So, things get a little bumpy, perhaps. I’ve only seen the first two episodes in script form, but… strap on your seatbelt. It’s going to be a wild ride.”

Production for series eight is set to commence in April, meaning viewers potentially won’t have long to wait before fresh information about the next instalment begins to emerge.

The forthcoming chapter will probably see Doc legally practising medicine once more but, following the strain of defending his licence and the prospect of Grace Valley taking control, could retirement be a possibility?

Matheson was swift to dismiss this theory, stating: “I don’t see that right now, no.

“Basically, he just keeps adjusting and in season seven, he actually came to a conclusion which threatened his relationship with Hope, that it’s better for his patients to try and adjust to more modern ways to help the patients by partnering with Grace Valley hospital.

“And using some of their improved equipment in the clinic and providing more immediate service to the patients, maybe through an ambulance and more modern care. And more money because a hospital can provide more modern equipment.

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“So I think he’s going to try that and see how that works, because really his goal is to be of service to the patient and whatever’s better for the patient is worth trying. And that may or may not have a deleterious effect on his relationships, and people have strong feelings one way or the other about bringing in an outside medical facility to help the clinic.

“He has mixed feelings about it, so that’s the thing that he’s going to be weighing throughout season eight.”

Will Doc and Hayes’ partnership prove harmonious or will Virgin River’s steadfast physician live to rue his choice? Keep watching for more small town drama arriving shortly.

Virgin River is available to stream on Netflix.

For the latest showbiz, TV, movie and streaming news, go to the new **Everything Gossip** website.

The new season of Virgin River unveiled some major twists.

Virgin River fans were exposed to a disturbing death and other tragedies.

WARNING: THIS STORY CONTAINS SPOILERS

Season seven of Virgin River has just arrived on Netflix, sending fans on an emotional rollercoaster as each character faces a life-changing event.

The new season saw Mel (played by Alexandra Breckenridge) and Jack Sheridan (Martin Henderson) navigate their lives as newlyweds while facing the prospect of becoming adoptive parents.

Meanwhile, Lizzie (Sarah Dugdale) and Denny (Kai Bradbury) welcomed their baby daughter, but Lizzie began to struggle with post-natal anxiety.

Elsewhere, Brie Sheridan (Zibby Allen) and Brady (Ben Hollingsworth) were trying their best to get along as friends, but they were both in denial about their feelings for one another.

Also, Brie was on a mission to track down Charmaine Roberts (Lauren Hammersley), who had gone missing following a disturbing death. Here are just some of the major plot points from the finale.

Brady was in a motorcycle accident

The final moments of the season saw Brady on his way to meet Brie for breakfast after the pair rekindled their relationship.

While they had tried their best to remain just friends, Brie realised Brady was the only one who had made her feel alive and free.

They made their relationship official at a huge community event, and Brady was excited to spend the morning with his girlfriend.

However, whilst on his motorbike, he was distracted by thoughts of Brie and did not see a lorry approaching.

Viewers saw Brady come off his bike after it collided with the huge vehicle, but his ultimate fate remained a mystery.

Preacher wanted to leave Jack’s bar

Jack’s best friend and business partner, Preacher (Colin Lawrence), was keen to explore new opportunities at the bar and took on a whole new menu.

He was excited to share his vision of expanding the bar, but when he put the idea to Jack, he was not keen on taking such a big risk.

Feeling that Jack was unappreciative of his work, Preacher asked Jack to buy him out of the business so He could explore his own opportunities.

After some deliberation, Jack decided to grant Preacher his wish and draw up the paperwork, but it appeared Preacher was starting to have second thoughts.

Fans are still waiting to find out whether Preacher signed the paperwork, ultimately cutting ties with Jack and the business.

Roland confessed his love for Hope

Hope McCrea (Annette O’Toole) and Doc Mullins (Tim Matheson) ended up falling out after Doc began having second thoughts about partnering with the doctors at Grace Valley.

Feeling he had gone behind her back in making such an important decision, Hope stormed out on Doc and ended up spending time with her ex-husband, Roland (John Ralston).

During an emotional conversation, Roland revealed the truth about Hope’s father, who was the reason she had come to hate Roland so much, and it transpired that neither was to blame after all.

Roland eventually admitted he still loved Hope and helped her scatter her father’s ashes, so fans may be left wondering whether they will start to rekindle their romance.

Charmaine was kidnapped by Grant and he killed Calvin

A huge storyline in season seven was the disappearance of Charmaine after it was revealed her ex Calvin (Josh Blacker) had been shot and killed.

It transpired that Charmaine’s boss, Grant, had developed an obsession with Charmaine, and they had clearly spent a lot of time together.

Recalling the events of the night of Calvin’s death, Grant, who was holding a gun, revealed Calvin had not wanted him around the babies, and he had come to Charmaine’s house to threaten her.

As Calvin and Charmaine got into an altercation, Grant shot and killed Calvin in order to protect Charmaine. Grant was ultimately arrested for killing Calvin and kidnapping Charmaine and the twins.

Marley’s baby was born with a rare heart defect

Mel’s patient Marley (Rachel Drance) had spent the entire season debating whether or not she wanted Mel and Jack to be the parents of her unborn child.

After the baby’s father came back into her life, the pair decided they were not ready to have a child and agreed Mel and Jack could keep the baby once it had been born.

In a tragic twist, it was discovered that the baby had a rare heart defect that he would need to have a series of operations.

Marley was whisked off to the hospital the next day, and Mel helped deliver the baby, who was then taken off in an ambulance with Mel and Jack present.

Fans were left wondering whether the baby would recover.

Virgin River season 7 is on Netflix

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