Virgin Atlantic Launching Daily London – Seoul Service From March 29, 2026
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Virgin Atlantic will debut daily service between London Heathrow (LHR) and Seoul Incheon (ICN) on March 29, 2026, restoring year-round competition on the UK–Korea corridor. The flight replaces capacity lost as Korean Air and Asiana merge, and gives Virgin a credible foothold in Northeast Asia while unlocking valuable Heathrow slot utility. Because the route must avoid Russian airspace, expect longer block times than the great-circle distance suggests, especially westbound.
Schedule (Local Times)
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VS208 – LHR → ICN: Dep 14:10, Arr 10:30+1 (block ~12h20m)
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VS209 – ICN → LHR: Dep 12:20, Arr 18:50 (block ~14h30m)
Aircraft & Cabins
Virgin will operate a Boeing 787-9 configured with 258 seats: 31 Business, 35 Premium Economy, and 192 Economy. It’s the carrier’s current 787 interior (refits are planned later in the decade), offering the familiar Virgin soft product, power/IFE at every seat, and competitive Premium Economy for the sector length. Business remains the earlier-generation suite on the 787s until the upgrade program arrives.
Why It Matters
This is a regulatory-remedy route arising from consolidation in Korea, but it’s also a smart way for Virgin to diversify modestly beyond its transatlantic core without a massive fleet commitment. Daily service supports both point-to-point corporate demand and connections on each end: UK/Europe into LHR and Korea/Japan/Northeast Asia beyond ICN. The schedule is timed to preserve connectivity banks while acknowledging the longer detours around restricted airspace.
Connectivity & Market Position
From LHR, Virgin taps extensive UK and European feed. At ICN, travelers gain broad access across Korea and the region via partners and interlines, with strong relevance to Japan, Southeast Asia, and secondary Korean cities. For cargo, a daily widebody also restores consistent uplift between two high-value markets.
Practical Traveler Notes
Plan for ~14.5 hours westbound and ~12.3 hours eastbound due to routing. Daytime-leaning schedules help with sleep adjustment and onward connections. Award space and fare variety typically improve on daily launches, and Premium Economy is likely to be a sweet spot given the stage length and pricing dynamics.
Airport Codes
LHR – London Heathrow
ICN – Seoul Incheon
Bottom Line
Virgin Atlantic launches daily LHR–ICN on March 29, 2026, operating VS208/VS209 with a B787-9 (258 seats). Expect longer flight times around Russian airspace, solid connectivity on both ends, and a meaningful competitive presence on the UK–Korea city pair. The service fulfills a merger remedy, gives Virgin strategic slot flexibility, and—at minimum—anchors a three-year commitment window while the airline evaluates long-term performance.
