• Four times a week seasonal winter service will operate on a Boeing 787-9 from 28 October 2023
• Economy fares start from £505 return and a four night holiday with Virgin Atlantic Holidays from £899
• Airline will also launch flights to The Maldives and Turks and Caicos from October, bolstering the airline’s leisure portfolio
• Manchester, Virgin Atlantic’s home in the North, will receive a new seasonal route to Las Vegas in Summer 2024
• Also launching inter-island flights in the Caribbean, with Virgin Atlantic Holidays providing twin centre packages 

Virgin Atlantic is delighted to be relaunching services between London Heathrow and Dubai, as the airline continues to capitalise on pent up demand for premium travel and grow its route network. The four times a week service will operate seasonally from October through to March, capitalising on sunny winter breaks for sunshine hungry Brits.  Customers can book flights from 7 June 2023 from £505 return.

The airline expects the new route to be hit with leisure customers and aims to capture the increased demand for premium winter sun getaways.  The year-round warm weather with just a three-hour time difference is set to appeal to couples and families alike. The relaunch of the popular route will complement Virgin Atlantic’s two other newly announced premium destinations - the Maldives and Turks and Caicos.

Virgin Atlantic Holidays offers a portfolio of more than 30 properties throughout Dubai and the region. Set upon miles of glorious golden sand, Dubai’s spectacular resorts will allow customers to luxuriate in five-star glamour, while still within reach of the bright lights of the city. The nearby desert offers a treasure trove of adventure from camel rides to sand boarding and dune bashing. Perfect for guests of all ages seeking new experiences.

The route will commence on 28 October, operating on the airline’s 787-9 aircraft boasting 31 Upper Class, 35 Premium and 192 Economy Delight, Classic and Light seats.  The new service will offer seamless connections and a consistent long haul onboard experience for those customers connecting from Dubai via London Heathrow to destinations throughout North America across both the Virgin Atlantic and Delta networks, including New York, Seattle, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and San Francisco. As well as flying customers, Virgin Atlantic will offer 20 tonnes of cargo capacity on each flight. This fast cargo service will offer new opportunities for companies looking to export and import goods such as fresh produce and high tech products between the Middle East and prime markets in the UK and US. 

Virgin Atlantic has today also announced an expansion to services from Manchester Airport, the airline’s home in the North. New services to Las Vegas will commence in Summer 2024 and are set to provide passengers in the North West and beyond a wider offering of leisure flights, which also include Orlando and Barbados.   The new Manchester service will operate on one of Virgin Atlantic’s newest aircraft, the Airbus A350-1000 aircraft boasting 16 Upper Class, 56 Premium, and 325 Economy Delight, Classic, and Light seats as well as the airline’s unique social space - The Booth. The new area, designed for Upper Class passengers, is perfect for travellers to enjoy afternoon tea together, a spot of wine tasting or simply catching up as they cross the Atlantic.  Fares start from £770 per person in Economy.

In a further enhancement to its leisure programme, Virgin Atlantic is also reaffirming its position as the leading transatlantic airline to the Caribbean by launching inter-island flying, making a wider variety of luxurious destinations even more accessible.  The announcement comes as the airline is set to grow its presence in the region by flying to more islands than ever before, as well as offering 150% more seats in its premium cabins compared to 2019.

From 14 June Virgin Atlantic will be the only UK airline allowing travellers to easily hop from Barbados to Grenada or St Vincent and the Grenadines, allowing even more customers to experience multi-island holidays in a tropical paradise by flying in Virgin Atlantic style. The new inter-island services are set to provide both international and local customers more opportunities to explore the Caribbean and each island’s unique personality. With an increased customer demand for experience-rich breaks, Virgin Atlantic Holidays will provide complete packages incorporating easy booking, preferred itineraries and seamless connections between the islands, each with the same premium Virgin Atlantic service they enjoy on transatlantic flights. This will also be complemented by an increase in flights to St Vincent and the Grenadines, which will operate thrice weekly this winter, with seats to St Lucia increasing by 33% since last year, reaffirming the post pandemic demand for premium, sunny getaways.

Rikke Christensen, Vice President of Network & Alliances at Virgin Atlantic, commented;

“I’m thrilled to be returning to Dubai – a destination we know our customers and people love.  Its inviting climate during the cold UK winter, combined with its first-class collection of hotels and experiences make Dubai a must visit destination for sunshine hungry Brits. 

We’ve long wanted to return to this incredible city when the time was right, and this year presents the perfect opportunity.  Dubai will complement our growing collection of winter sun destinations, bolstered by The Maldives and Turks and Caicos later this year alongside our new services between Manchester and Las Vegas in Summer 2024 and the soon to commence inter-Caribbean flights. I’m looking forward to welcoming our customers back to this vibrant, exciting destination once more.”

Virgin Atlantic last operated flights to Dubai in March 2019.

Four nights in Dubai for £899 per person

Four nights in Dubai with Virgin Atlantic Holidays, including scheduled Virgin Atlantic Economy flights direct from London Heathrow to Dubai. Accommodation at JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai. Price is based on two adults travelling and sharing a Deluxe Room Double on a Bed & Breakfast. All applicable taxes and fuel surcharges which are subject to change. Price is based on a departure on 5 November 2023. To book: visit a Virgin Atlantic Holidays retail store or call 0344 557 3859 or visit virginholidays.co.uk. Virgin Atlantic Holidays is a member of ABTA and is ATOL protected. Prices subject to change and availability. Virgin Atlantic Holidays terms and conditions apply.

Barbados and Grenada seven night twin centre from £2395 per person

Three nights in Barbados and four nights in Grenada with Virgin Atlantic Holidays, including scheduled Virgin Atlantic Economy flights direct from London Heathrow to Barbados with interisland connection to Grenada. Accommodation at Colony Club by Elegant Hotels Barbados and Calabash Luxury Boutique Hotel Grenada is included. Price is based on two adults travelling and sharing a Luxury Swim Up Poolside View Room on a Bed & Breakfast basis (Barbados) and a Calabash Luxury Boutique Hotel – Junior Suite on a Half Board basis (Grenada.) All applicable taxes and fuel surcharges which are subject to change. Price is based on a departure on 10 October 2023. To book: visit a Virgin Atlantic Holidays retail store or call 0344 557 3859 or visit virginholidays.co.uk. Virgin Atlantic Holidays is a member of ABTA and is ATOL protected. Prices subject to change and availability. Virgin Atlantic Holidays terms and conditions apply.

Barbados and  St Vincent and the Grenadines 10 night twin centre from £1035per person

Ten nights in Barbados and St Vincent and the Grenadines with Virgin Atlantic Holidays, including scheduled Virgin Atlantic Economy flights direct from London Heathrow to Barbados with interisland connection to St Vincent. Accommodation at Blue Lagoon Hotel and Coconut Court Beach Hotel is included. Price is based on two adults travelling and sharing a Deluxe Room (St Vincent and the Grenadines) and a Palm View Garden Room (Barbados) both on an all inclusive basis.  All applicable taxes and fuel surcharges which are subject to change. Price is based on a departure on 10 September 2023. To book: visit a Virgin Atlantic Holidays retail store or call 0344 557 3859 or visit virginholidays.co.uk. Virgin Atlantic Holidays is a member of ABTA and is ATOL protected. Prices subject to change and availability. Virgin Atlantic Holidays terms and conditions apply.

Key facts:

Service operates:                 London Heathrow (LHR) – Dubai (DXB)

Frequency:                            Four times a week, winter seasonal service, launching 28 October 2023

On sale date:                        07 June 2023

Lead in fare:                          Return Economy fares start from £505 per person

Flight number;                       VS400 / VS401

Schedule:                              LHR – DXB:  17:35 / 04:40 +1

                                                DXB – LHR:  13:00 / 17:05

Aircraft:                                  Boeing 787-9

Configuration:                       31 Upper Class, 35 Premium, 192 Economy        

What’s included:                  A full service onboard offering including complimentary food and drink and over 300 hours of entertainment (movies, TV and music).   All aircraft are WiFi enabled. 

S23

W23

For more information please contact the Virgin Atlantic Press Office on 01293 747373 or email press.office@fly.virgin.com

About Virgin Atlantic      

Virgin Atlantic was founded by entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson in 1984, with innovation and amazing customer service at its core. In 2022, Virgin Atlantic was voted Britain’s only Global Five Star Airline by APEX for the sixth year running in the Official Airline Ratings. Headquartered in London, it employs more than 7,500 people worldwide, flying customers to 31 destinations across four continents throughout the year. Virgin Atlantic recently continued its expansion in the US, launching new routes to Austin, Texas and Tampa, Florida.

Alongside shareholder and Joint Venture partner Delta Air Lines, Virgin Atlantic operates a leading transatlantic network, with onward connections to over 200 cities around the world. In February 2020, Air France-KLM, Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic launched an expanded Joint Venture, offering a comprehensive route network, convenient flight schedules, competitive fares and reciprocal frequent flyer benefits, including the ability to earn and redeem miles across all carriers.  Virgin Atlantic joined SkyTeam in March 2023 as the global airline alliance’s first and only UK member airline, enhancing the alliance’s transatlantic network and services to and from Heathrow and Manchester Airport.  

Virgin Atlantic has been pioneering sustainability leadership for more than 15 years, committing to Net Zero by 2050 and continuous action that reduces environmental impact.  The airline operates one of the youngest and most fuel-efficient fleets in the skies and has reduced its absolute carbon emissions by 35% over the last decade. In October 2022, Virgin Atlantic welcomed the first of 16 A330-900neos to the fleet, continuing its transformation towards 100% next generation aircraft by 2027.  Later in 2023, Virgin Atlantic is leading an industry consortium to deliver the first 100% SAF flight across the transatlantic. Demonstrating that 100% SAF can be used safely as a drop in fuel in existing infrastructure, engines and airframes. The need to scale production is an industry imperative and Virgin Atlantic is committed to radical collaboration across the energy chain to support commercialisation ahead of 2030.

For more information visit www.virginatlantic.com or via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @virginatlantic.