Sparkling blue waters, sand stretching as far as the eye can see, and colourful boats dotted around the shores.
Phuket in Thailand is a bucket-list destination for many, and soon, it’s going to become much, much easier to visit.
Virgin Atlantic is launching the first-ever direct flight from London to this island, hailed by visitors as a complete ‘paradise.’
There’s a little while to wait, as the first journey jets off on October 18, 2026 — but from then onwards, there’ll be three flights per week available.
Phuket might be Thailand’s largest island, but at the moment, the journey to get to it is a little bit tricky.
Passengers from London are typically faced with at least two flights, and routes currently involve a layover in either Beijing, Shanghai, or Kuala Lumpur, which can take anywhere between 17 hours and a whopping 22 hours, including layovers.
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The new route will shorten that considerably, with flights from Heathrow scheduled to take off at midday on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, landing at 7.10am the next day.
Taking into consideration time differences, that chops the journey down to approximately 13 hours and 10 minutes. Much better, right? And the obvious destination for spending that extra time is the beach, of which there are plenty to choose from, including Banana Beach or Nai Harn.
As for the return leg, there’ll be options available from Phuket back to the Big Smoke on Thursdays, Saturdays and Mondays, departing at 9.20am and landing at 4.00pm.
‘We’re thrilled to introduce our new direct service to Phuket, giving our customers a flavour of one of Southeast Asia’s most captivating destinations,’ says Juha Jarvinen, Virgin Atlantic’s chief commercial officer.
‘As well as making the trip more convenient, they can enjoy exploring Thailand’s unique heritage, natural beauty and delicious cuisine. We can’t wait for our customers to experience our trademark hospitality on their next unforgettable journey.’
Already looking to plan ahead for next year’s dose of winter sun? Tickets go on sale on November 26, with the cost for two adults for a holiday package — with flights and hotels — coming in at £999 per person.
This particular package includes seven nights of TLC at the bougie four-star Sugar Marina Hotel Fashion, right next to Kata Beach.
Fancy taking it up a notch? For all the bells and whistles, the 5-star ‘luxury price’ option ups the ante, with seven nights at The Sands Khao Lak by Katathani and economy classic flights coming in at £1,599 per person.
Virgin expansion
Alongside the new flight to Thailand revival, Richard Branson’s airline is expanding its winter holiday schedule, providing British holidaymakers with more options to travel to warm destinations during the colder months.
Virgin will be boosting its Dubai services by over 50% and adding 15% more seats on routes to Cape Town in South Africa.
Dubai has long drawn travellers with its mix of luxury experiences, year-round sun, vibrant nightlife and desert safaris.
The appeal of the Gulf hub is almost universal, fitting the bill for family adventures, business trips, solo holidays and romantic getaways.
Virgin Atlantic has responded by flying to the emirate on the Airbus A350 aircraft, the largest plane in its fleet. Increased seating capacity across Upper Class, Premium, and Economy cabins means there’s something to suit every budget.
Meanwhile, flights to Cape Town are set to run for longer this year, operating from October through April.
The South African destination has become increasingly attractive to travellers looking to explore its striking landscapes, world-renowned wildlife reserves and award-winning wineries.
New routes from the UK to destinations across the world
Need some travel inspiration? Lots of airlines have launched new routes to exciting holiday destinations.
- On October 19, Richard Branson’s airline relaunched direct flights to a winter sun destination in Mexico, a comeback after six years.
- For summer 2026, Jet2 has launched 3 new destinations from UK including an ‘unspoiled’ Greek island, often referred to as Greece’s ‘best kept secret’.
- If Spain is calling your name, you’re in luck as one of London’s top airports is launching new flights to Madrid this winter, available to book from December 1.
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