Virgin Atlantic Launches Riyadh Service and Confirms Daily Flights to Seoul
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Virgin Atlantic has expanded its long-haul network with two major announcements: the successful launch of its first-ever service to Riyadh (RUH), and confirmation of upcoming daily flights to Seoul (ICN) starting in March 2026. These developments are part of the airline’s broader strategic efforts to strengthen its global footprint across Asia and the Middle East, while enhancing SkyTeam alliance synergies.
Virgin Atlantic Begins Operations to Riyadh
On March 30, 2025, Virgin Atlantic commenced daily flights between London Heathrow (LHR) and Riyadh King Khalid International Airport (RUH). The inaugural flight was marked by a ceremony attended by CEO Shai Weiss and Virgin Group founder Sir Richard Branson. The service is operated by Airbus A330-900neo, with the debut flight using aircraft G-VJAZ, nicknamed Billie Holiday.
The route is designed to support Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 by boosting travel and trade links with the United Kingdom. Virgin expects a predominantly Saudi Arabian point of sale, targeting business and leisure travelers seeking seamless connections to the UK and onward to North America via Heathrow.
Virgin Atlantic now joins British Airways and SkyTeam partner Saudia in serving the London–Riyadh market. According to Cirium Diio Mi, the three airlines collectively operate 42 weekly flights between the two cities in April 2025.
Virgin Atlantic to Launch Daily Seoul Service in March 2026
Virgin Atlantic will further expand its Asia-Pacific presence with the launch of daily nonstop service between London Heathrow (LHR) and Seoul Incheon International Airport (ICN) starting March 29, 2026. The route will be operated by Boeing 787-9 aircraft and marks the airline’s entry into South Korea.
This service fills a competitive gap created by the Asiana Airlines–Korean Air merger, which prompted the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to require measures preserving competition on the London–Seoul route. As part of the remedy package, Korean Air agreed to facilitate Virgin Atlantic’s entry by making Heathrow slots available and entering “related arrangements” to support route launch.
The CMA granted an extension for the start of service to align with the 2026 IATA summer season, providing Virgin Atlantic adequate time to prepare for a successful launch.
Network and Partnership Synergies
The new Seoul route leverages SkyTeam connectivity, allowing Virgin Atlantic passengers access to onward connections via Korean Air, as well as alliance members Vietnam Airlines, China Eastern, China Airlines, Garuda Indonesia, and Xiamen Airlines.
Codeshare agreements will allow seamless travel to destinations including Tokyo (NRT/HND), Sydney (SYD), and multiple intra-Asian cities. Virgin Atlantic emphasized that the route will serve multiple customer segments, with a focus on leisure travelers, drawn by South Korea’s renowned cuisine, shopping, and global pop culture (“Korean Wave”).
Bottom Line
Virgin Atlantic is reinforcing its long-haul ambitions with two key developments: the launch of daily London–Riyadh flights and the announcement of Seoul service beginning in March 2026. The Riyadh route supports economic initiatives under Saudi Vision 2030, while the Seoul service fulfills competitive requirements set by UK regulators following the Korean Air–Asiana merger. Both routes strengthen Virgin Atlantic’s strategic presence in high-growth markets and demonstrate its commitment to network expansion through SkyTeam partnerships.
