Virgin Atlantic launches its first ever direct flight from UK to ‘paradise’ island

| Lifestyle Reporter Published September 3, 2026 11:37am Updated September 3, 2026 11:49am Virgin is introducing the first ever direct flight to Phuket from London (Picture: Getty Images) 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 its first ever direct flight from London to this island, hailed by visitors as a complete ‘paradise’. There’s not long left to wait, as the first journey jets off on October 18, 2026 — with three flights per week available from then onwards. Phuket might be Thailand’s largest island, but at the moment, the journey there is a bit of a headache. Passengers from Heathrow typically face at least two flights — stopping over in either Beijing, Shanghai, or Kuala Lumpur — and a door-to-door journey time of anywhere between 17 and 22 hours. The new route will launch in October (Picture: Getty Images) The new route will shorten that considerably, with flights 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. That’s a whole load of extra time you can spend on 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 UK’s busiest airport on Thursdays, Saturdays and Mondays, departing at 9.20am and landing at 4pm. There are plenty of spots to witness a gorgeous sunset (Picture: Shutterstock / Parilov) Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. ‘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,’ Juha Jarvinen, Virgin Atlantic’s chief commercial officer, said when announcing the addition to the schedule last year. ‘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.’ Virgin schedule changes Despite adding this new flight to Thailand, Richard Branson’s airline is making cutbacks elsewhere in schedule this winter. Virgin announced in May it had made the ‘difficult decision’ to cancel all UK flights to Dubai until at least winter 2027. The carrier has stated that due to ‘evolving customer demand’, there needed to be some changes made to its current flying programme. It’s an exciting time at Virgin (Picture: John Keeble/Getty Images) The news comes amid ongoing disruption to global air travel due to conflict in the Middle East, which sparked soaring jet fuel prices and then a wave of cancelled flights. There have been one positive to come off the back of this move though; Virgin Atlantic has redeployed its fleet to offer more long-haul services to South Africa. From October 2026 to April 2027, the airline will operate up to 10 weekly flights between London Heathrow and Johannesburg OR Tambo, and 11 weekly services to Cape Town. These South African destinations have become increasingly attractive to travellers looking to explore its striking landscapes, world-renowned wildlife reserves and award-winning wineries. Our Top Shopping Picks An Instagram mattress left me with back pain – this one completely changed my mind Book Val d'Isère, Val Thorens and Tignes for less in Club Med's ski sale Save 25% on red light therapy masks, sauna blankets and sleep gadgets in Bon Charge sale The viral LED face mask with over 350 lights that's currently discounted by £100 A friend said I looked 'snatched' – I credit this new Charlotte Tilbury powder A version of this article was first published on October 31, 2025. Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@metro.co.uk Arrow MORE: Shocking photos reveal why this bucket list Greek beach is now ‘hell on earth’ Arrow MORE: 5,000 US sailors given sex work warning after aircraft carrier docks in Pattaya Arrow MORE: M25 closed at rush hour on first day back to school after serious crash The Getaway Expert Your exclusive seven-day guide to travelling with confidence from Metro's resident travel expert, Alice Murphy.