Virgin Atlantic is opening a new route offering travellers a direct 14-hour flight from London Heathrow to Phuket, Thailand's largest island. The service will become the only direct route between London and Phuket, as most other direct flights to Thailand land in Bangkok instead.
New seasonal service details
Phuket is Thailand's largest island and a popular resort destination known for its long sandy beaches, scenery and culture. Phuket International Airport itself is a tourist attraction, with its runway sitting next to Mai Khao Beach, allowing beachgoers to watch planes coming in for landing just overhead.
The new route is expected to launch on October 18, 2026, after being announced last autumn. The Boeing 787-9 planes hold more than 250 seats and will operate seasonally to Phuket three times a week.
Winter sun destination
Phuket's winter season runs from November to February, with average daytime highs often exceeding 30°C and cooler evenings rarely dipping below 20°C. This is also the island's dry season, following the heavy summer rains and monsoon season.
The route adds to the winter sun destinations Virgin offers British travellers, including the Maldives, Dubai, Cape Town and year-round Caribbean options.
Connections and pricing
Virgin has partnered with Bangkok Airways, allowing travellers to use the new Phuket route for easy connections over land and sea to Thailand's other islands, including Bangkok, Koh Samui and Krabi.
The London to Phuket flights will depart every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday this winter, with return flights leaving the island on Thursday, Saturday and Monday. Travellers wanting to head to the Andaman Sea before October 18 can still book with Virgin Atlantic Holidays, but will fly on an Emirates plane with a connection in Dubai.
Seats on Virgin's inaugural Phuket flight are currently priced around £1,300 for a one-way economy ticket and up to £4,097 for upper class.
