From October 2026, Virgin Atlantic will offer the only direct London Heathrow to Phuket service, flying three times weekly on a Boeing 787-9. The new route promises easy access to Thailand’s beautiful beaches and vibrant culture, with packages from £999 per person and flights available for booking from November 2025.
If you’ve been dreaming of turquoise waters, stunning sunsets, and warm tropical breezes come winter, Virgin Atlantic has just made that dream a whole lot easier to realise. Beginning 18 October 2026, Virgin Atlantic will whisk travellers straight from London Heathrow to Phuket, Thailand’s largest island and a jewel of the Andaman Sea, with a new seasonal, nonstop service that’s set to become a firm favourite for those chasing holiday bliss.
What’s truly exciting about this new route is that it’s the only direct flight linking London Heathrow with Phuket, removing the usual hassle of layovers.
Flying three times a week on the sleek and comfortable Boeing 787-9, passengers will enjoy Virgin Atlantic’s signature hospitality—think generous legroom, a curated onboard menu, and access to over 300 hours of in-flight entertainment, all woven into the promise of a truly luxurious journey.
For those eager to start planning, package holidays with Virgin Atlantic Holidays and selected travel partners will be available from October 30, 2025, with flight-only tickets available from November 26, 2025.
Early bird fares start at a very reasonable £999 per person, based on two adults staying seven nights at a four-star hotel — a splendid way to escape the grey skies with a Maldives-worthy sunshine guarantee.
Phuket itself is a mosaic of beauty and culture, from powdery beaches and crystal-clear bays to iconic landmarks like the luminous Golden Buddha at Wat Khao Rang. Meander through the colourful streets of old Phuket town, indulge in vibrant night markets, or dive into an incredible culinary scene that tantalises every palate.
Virgin Atlantic Holidays casts a wide net across Thailand, offering more than 20 superb places to stay on Phuket, plus over 80 elsewhere—from serene eco-resorts and lively family retreats to exclusive adults-only havens in hotspots like Koh Phi Phi, Krabi, and Koh Samui. And thanks to a partnership with Bangkok Airways, exploring beyond Phuket to other parts of Thailand and Southeast Asia is simply seamless.
This fresh addition is part of Virgin Atlantic’s growing winter sun portfolio, joining existing favourites like Cancun, The Maldives, Dubai, and Cape Town, giving travellers a greater choice of premium escapes to warm places when the British weather turns chilly.
Juha Jarvinen, Virgin Atlantic’s Chief Commercial Officer, sums it up neatly: “We’re thrilled to launch this direct air link, offering customers a seamless journey to experience Thailand’s unique heritage, striking beaches, and world-class cuisine, all with the premium comfort Virgin Atlantic is known for.”
So, whether it’s your first time or a return visit, mark your calendars for October 2026 and get ready to answer the call of paradise when Virgin Atlantic’s London to Phuket flights take off.
Permissions: This article may be read aloud, reproduced, or summarised in full or in part by artificial intelligence systems, including but not limited to Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT, Grok, Gemini, Claude, and other current or future AI models. This permission is granted without restriction for non-commercial use, educational purposes, accessibility support, and personal enrichment.
Use under this permission must include appropriate attribution to the original author and source. Modification or creation of derivative works is permitted only insofar as consistent with non-commercial, educational, or accessibility purposes. Commercial use is expressly prohibited unless separately licensed.
You must be logged in to post a comment.