Virgin Atlantic Expands Network with New Routes to Saudi Arabia and Ghana in Summer 2025
Virgin Atlantic has officially announced its intention to establish new flight routes from London Heathrow to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and Accra, Ghana, set to commence in the summer of 2025. The airline will begin ticket sales for these new routes on September 12, 2024.
The daily flight service to Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport aligns with the anticipated growth outlined in Saudi Vision 2030. According to Virgin Atlantic, air traffic between the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia is projected to expand by 24% from 2019 to 2035 as the country pursues aggressive economic development goals. The economic relationship between the UK and Saudi Arabia was evidenced in 2023, with trade valued at £17.1 billion and ambitions to escalate this figure to £30 billion by the year 2030.
The airline emphasized that the predominant market for this route will be Saudi Arabian customers, facilitating their travel to the UK as well as providing seamless connections to 12 key destinations across North America through Virgin Atlantic and its partner Delta Air Lines, including major cities such as Atlanta, New York, Los Angeles, and Miami. Additionally, the route seeks to cater to the visiting friends and relatives (VFR) market, which has experienced a fivefold increase in the Saudi population residing in the UK from 2000 to 2018.
Daily flights to Riyadh will be operated using the Airbus A330neo, the latest addition to the Virgin Atlantic fleet, with service commencing on March 30, 2025. Riyadh also serves as a hub for Saudia, Inc., Virgin Atlantic’s SkyTeam partner, thereby extending onward travel options to cities such as Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi, with plans to include additional destinations within Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, and China as the strategic alliance progresses. Virgin Atlantic Flying Club members will have the opportunity to earn and redeem Virgin Points when traveling on Saudia’s network along with those of other SkyTeam partners.
In regard to Ghana, Virgin Atlantic will resume service to Accra for the first time since 2013, offering daily flights to Kotoka International Airport beginning May 1, 2025. The new route is expected to fulfill the increased demand for travel related to the significant Ghanaian diaspora residing in the UK, which is the third largest globally. It is estimated that approximately 10% of passengers will connect through London onto Virgin Atlantic’s services to New York JFK.
This daily operation to Accra will be conducted using the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and will feature the airline’s comprehensive cabin offerings, including Upper Class, Premium, and Economy options, along with an onboard bar. Furthermore, Virgin Atlantic has recently announced its expansion into North America, coinciding with a strategic re-evaluation that includes the suspension of its Heathrow-Shanghai route due to increased travel times and elevated operational costs stemming from geopolitical challenges.
In conclusion, Virgin Atlantic’s expansion into Saudi Arabia and Ghana is indicative of its commitment to enhancing its global network and responding to the evolving travel demands of its customers. The aligned strategy with Saudia in Saudi Arabia is particularly noteworthy as it maximizes connectivity within a region experiencing substantial growth, while the return to Ghana demonstrates the airline’s dedication to serving established diaspora communities.
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