Tampa is an excellent alternative to Miami and Orlando as a gateway to Florida's west coast. Virgin Atlantic has direct flights from London Heathrow (LHR) to Tampa International Airport (TPA), with connections from regional airports throughout the United Kingdom. Alternatively, you can fly directly to Tampa with KLM Royal Dutch, Delta Airlines, or Airfrance. The average time for a direct flight to Tampa is ten hours, and indirect flights can be 18 hours long or more, depending upon the number of layovers