Annyeong, Seoul! Airline Virgin Atlantic has announced a brand new route, flying into the South Korean capital from March of next year. Offering direct access into the heart and Seoul of East Asia, this dynamic city is where cutting-edge tech, pop music, and world-famous cuisine collide. Here’s what travellers can expect from the airline’s new long-haul destination and available connections.
Seoul-Searching
After recently announcing a new route to Toronto, airline Virgin Atlantic have announced their new route to the capital city of South Korea.
Launching from London Heathrow, the airline will be flying into Seoul Incheon International Airport (ICN) beginning in Spring of 2026. The flights will operate on a daily basis, serving those from Korean Wave enthusiasts to business travellers.
The capital city is known for its radiant culture, boasting the best of beauty, technology and influential K-Pop musical culture that has taken the world by storm.
The new route also opens further connections for those looking to explore East Asia, providing connections for those visiting countries such as Japan, China, Vietnam, Australia and New Zealand.
Working alongside airline alliance SkyTeam, Virgin Atlantic are collaborating with airlines such as Korean Air, Vietnam Airlines and China Airlines to expand connection routes. Codeshare agreements between the airline and Korean Air will allow travellers to connect to 15 new cities, varying from Japan’s Osaka to Australia’s Brisbane.
Operating with the sleek and efficient Boeing 787-9, the first journey is set to take off on March 29, 2026, with flights on sale from May 14, 2025.
Increasing Services to Saudi Arabia and India
Ahead of their new service to Seoul, Virgin Atlantic have launched their first flights to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The flight journey operates on a daily basis, flying between King Khalid International Airport and London Heathrow. The route is expected to be most popular amongst those departing from Saudi Arabia, with many travellers visiting the U.K. or continuing to connecting flights throughout North America with Virgin Atlantic and Delta airlines.
On the other hand, those visiting Riyadh from the U.K. can enjoy the city’s plethora of shopping and entertainment experiences, including a theme park and F1 circuit. Alternatively, further connections allow passengers to visit holy and historical sites, such as Jeddah and Al Ula.
2025 also marks 25 years of the airline’s flying to India, which now sees 5 daily flights serving passengers visiting Bengaluru, Mumbai and Delhi. These operations have seen a huge increase in both capacity and cargo growth, with seats seeing a capacity growth of 350% and cargo receiving a capacity increase of 336% since 2019.
Will you be setting off to Seoul? We’d love to hear from you below!
