Virgin Atlantic Resumes Course to Asia: New Route Between London and Seoul Starting March 2026
Virgin Atlantic announced the launch of a new route between Heathrow Airport (London) and Seoul (South Korea), set to begin operations on March 29, 2026. This news marks not only a significant expansion for the airline but also a strategic return to the Asia-Pacific market following the suspension of key routes such as Hong Kong in 2022 and Shanghai in 2023.
Itinerary Details and Key Dates
The new daily service will be operated using Boeing 787-9 aircraft and will follow the schedule below:
- Flight VS208: Departs Heathrow at 09:45, arrives in Seoul at 06:05 the following day.
- Flight VS209: Departs Seoul at 08:35, arrives at Heathrow at 15:05.
Ticket sales will open on May 14, allowing travelers to plan their journeys between Europe and Asia well in advance.
→ Virgin Atlantic Returns to Canada: New Flight Between London and Toronto
The Backstory: Korean Air and Asiana Merger
The approval to operate this route stems from agreements reached in 2023 following the merger between Korean Air and Asiana. This alliance has opened new doors for Virgin Atlantic, granting it access to one of Asia’s most dynamic aviation markets.
Regional Connectivity Through SkyTeam
Both Virgin Atlantic and Korean Air are members of the SkyTeam alliance. Thanks to their codeshare agreements, passengers will have access to an extensive network of additional destinations from Seoul, including 15 cities within South Korea and several others across Asia and Oceania:
- Japan: Osaka, Nagoya, Tokyo Haneda, Tokyo Narita, Fukuoka, Okinawa, and Hokkaido.
- Australia: Sydney and Brisbane.
- New Zealand: Auckland.
- Vietnam: Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang.
- China: Hong Kong.
Juha Jarvinen, Chief Commercial Officer of Virgin Atlantic, stated: “While Virgin Atlantic has historically been recognized as the go-to airline for transatlantic flights—which remain the core of our business—we are incredibly excited to expand our network eastward with the announcement of this new service to Seoul.”
The launch of this route marks a significant shift in Virgin Atlantic’s international strategy, which had scaled back its presence in Asia following the pandemic’s impact. With this new operation, the British airline not only regains lost ground but also strengthens its position in one of the world’s most important air corridors.
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