Virgin Atlantic Announces New Flights to Accra, Riyadh, and Toronto

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LONDON- Virgin Atlantic (VS) has unveiled plans to expand its London Heathrow (LHR) operations, adding Riyadh (RUH), Saudi Arabia, and Accra (ACC), Ghana, to its summer 2025 schedule.

This move marks a significant expansion of the airline’s global network.

Virgin Atlantic Riyadh Flights

Virgin Atlantic will introduce daily flights to King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, capitalizing on Saudi Arabia’s economic growth driven by Vision 2030.

The route aims to boost trade between the UK and Saudi Arabia, which reached £17.1 billion in 2023 and is projected to hit £30 billion by 2030. Air travel between the two countries is expected to surge 24% from 2019 to 2035.

Riyadh’s rapid development, including new business districts, an F1 circuit, and entertainment complexes, makes it an attractive destination. The city also serves as a gateway to Saudi Arabia’s UNESCO World Heritage sites.

As the world’s 20th-largest economy and the Middle East’s biggest, Saudi Arabia presents significant opportunities. The route will primarily cater to Saudi Arabian customers traveling to the UK and connecting to North American destinations via Virgin Atlantic and Delta networks.

The service will also address the growing “visiting friends and relatives” market, reflecting a fivefold increase in Saudis residing in the UK between 2000 and 2018.

Virgin Atlantic will deploy its state-of-the-art A330neo aircraft on the Riyadh route, offering 30 tonnes of cargo capacity per flight. This will facilitate the transport of fresh produce, pharmaceuticals, and specialized goods between Riyadh and key markets in the UK and the US.

Partnership with Saudia Enhances Connectivity

Virgin Atlantic’s partnership with SkyTeam member Saudia (SV) will provide connections to Pakistani cities, with future expansions to destinations in Bangladesh and China.

Flying Club members can earn and redeem points on Saudia flights, enhancing the value proposition for frequent flyers.

The collaboration between Virgin Atlantic and Saudia already enables multi-daily departures between the UK and Saudi Arabia, with flights available through all sales channels.

Accra: Restarting After 12 years

Virgin Atlantic returns to Ghana after a 12-year hiatus, launching daily flights to Kotoka International Airport in Accra.

The service addresses the lack of competition on UK-Ghana routes and serves the third-largest Ghanaian diaspora globally.

Boeing 787 Dreamliners will operate the Accra route, featuring Upper Class, Premium, and Economy cabins, plus an onboard bar.

The service expects strong cargo demand, offering 30 tonnes of capacity per flight for fresh produce and other goods.

Toronto Service Begins March 30, 2025

Virgin Atlantic reenters the Canadian market with daily flights between London Heathrow and Toronto Pearson International Airport. The route enhances connectivity for passengers traveling to India via London, serving Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Delhi.

The Toronto service operates in partnership with Air France, Delta, KLM, and Canadian airline WestJet.

Juha Jarvinen, Chief Commercial Officer at Virgin Atlantic, emphasizes the opportunities these new routes bring for connecting friends, relatives, and businesses. He highlights the strengthened partnership with Saudia and expresses enthusiasm for introducing Virgin Atlantic’s brand and service to new markets in Saudi Arabia, Ghana, and Canada.

Route Launch date Frequency Time Aircraft Type Riyadh (RUH) Route is subject to government and slot approvals. Accra (ACC)Route is subject to government approvals Toronto (YYZ)

30 March 2025	Daily	LHR-RUH VS242 14:45 / 23:35 RUH – LHR VS243 01:25 / 07:00	A330neo
1 May 2025	Daily	LHR – ACC VS403 22:30 / 05:00(+1)ACC – LHR VS404 09:15 / 17:25	Boeing 787-9
30 March 2025	Daily	LHR – YYZ VS147 17:10/ 20:30YYZ – LHR VS148 20:20/ 10:30 (+1)	A330-300 and A330neo