Virgin Atlantic Announces Riyadh Flights

Virgin Atlantic is boosting its network as part of ongoing attempts to reshuffle the network to best utilize its core assets, from fleet to employees.

As part of those attempts and in time for the Summer 2025 season, Virgin Atlantic will launch daily flights between London Heathrow and Riyadh for the first time.

Service will commence on March 30, 2025, with Virgin Atlantic committing to operating the Airbus A330neo daily.

The A330neo already plays an integral role in the airline’s operations. A recent top-up purchase at the 2024 Farnborough Airshow means the fleet type will be the largest once delivered.

Virgin Atlantic also plans to leverage the SkyTeam alliance to its advantage through SAUDIA. This partnership will enable greater regional and short-haul connectivity from Riyadh.

Thanks to a stopover in Riyadh before switching airlines and aircraft, markets such as Karachi and Lahore, among others, will all be within reach. These collaborative efforts are pivotal in giving customers further options when flying.

Accra will also launch in the Summer of 2025 as part of the second route announcement that flew under the radar. The resumption of service follows well over a decade without service to the capital of Ghana.

Virgin Atlantic will use a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner on this route, which will commence on May 1, 2025. The service will operate daily as VS403 and VS404.

Interestingly, Virgin Atlantic highlights that this route resumption will see many travellers connect to markets such as North America through London.