Virgin Atlantic Expands Global Network with New Routes to Riyadh and Seoul
April 23, 2025
Virgin Atlantic has announced the addition of two new destinations to its global network: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and Seoul, South Korea. These routes signify the airline’s strategic expansion into key international markets, enhancing connectivity and offering passengers more travel options.
Daily Flights to Riyadh Launching March 2025
Starting March 30, 2025, Virgin Atlantic will commence daily flights from London Heathrow to King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. This marks the airline’s inaugural service to Saudi Arabia.
Discussing the new route on LinkedIn, Shai Weiss, CEO of Virgin Atlantic, said: “Our new service is launching in time to participate in Saudi Vision 2030 and ensuing growth. In my first visit in September last year, I had the chance to witness first-hand how the KSA is transforming rapidly, including an expanded downtown business district and UNESCO World Heritage site in Diriyah. It is truly a country and city in transformation.”
The new route is expected to cater to both business travellers and the growing segment of passengers visiting friends and relatives, reflecting the fivefold increase in Saudis residing in the UK between 2000 and 2018. Flights will be operated using the state-of-the-art Airbus A330neo, offering 32 Upper Class, 46 Premium, and 184 Economy seats. Each flight will also provide 30 tonnes of cargo capacity, facilitating trade between the UK and Saudi Arabia.
The announcement of the direct services follows the Strategic Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding signing between Virgin Atlantic and Riyadh Air in last year, aiming to enhance connectivity and offer passengers seamless travel options within Saudi Arabia and beyond.
New Service to Seoul Enhances Asia-Pacific Connectivity
Complementing its expansion into the Middle East, Virgin Atlantic is set to launch a new route to Seoul, South Korea. This service will provide passengers with direct access to one of Asia’s most dynamic cities, known for its rich culture, technology, and business opportunities.
The Seoul route is part of Virgin Atlantic’s broader strategy to strengthen its presence in the Asia-Pacific region, offering enhanced connectivity for both leisure and corporate travelers. Details regarding the launch date and flight schedules are expected to be announced in the coming months.
Juha Jarvinen, Chief Commercial Officer commented: “Whilst Virgin Atlantic has long been known as the carrier of choice across the Atlantic and transatlantic travel remains core to our business, we are incredibly excited to expand our network in the east with the announcement of new services to Seoul starting in March 2026. Building on new flying to Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, five flights a day to India, as well as our seasonal leisure services to The Maldives and Dubai, we’re delighted to offer customers the opportunity to fly in style to a wide range of destinations.
“Providing seamless connections to our customers is a real focus and by leveraging the power of our commercial cooperation with Korean Air, Saudia, IndiGo and Riyadh Air, customers can trust Virgin Atlantic to connect them to where they need to be, enjoying a premium customer experience, delivered by our amazing crew.”
By tapping into emerging markets and forging strategic partnerships, the airline aims to offer unparalleled service and connectivity across continents.
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