Virgin Atlantic is set to resume flights to Dubai this winter with a four-times-weekly seasonal service.
The flights will operate from October 28, 2023 through to March 2024, and will be operated by Boeing 787-9 aircraft, configured with 31 Upper Class, 35 Premium and 192 economy seats.
The airline, which last operated flights to Dubai in March 2019. said that it expects the route to “be a hit with leisure customers” and aims to “capture the increased demand for premium winter sun getaways”. Indeed, Business Traveller UK has chosen Dubai as its cover story for the June 2023 issue of the magazine.
Virgin is hoping to poach winter sun seekers from airlines such as Emirates, British Airways and Royal Brunei on the London Heathrow-Dubai route.
The carrier’s Dubai-London flight will also connect with Virgin/Delta onward flights to North American locations such as New York, Seattle, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Flight timings are as follows:
VS400 LHR – DXB: departs 1735, arrives 0440 the following day
VS401 DXB – LHR: departs 1300, arrives 1705
Bookings will open from June 7, with return economy fares starting from £505.
Rikke Christensen, Vice President of Network and 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.”
October 2023 will also see the airline launch new routes to the Maldives and Turks and Caicos.
The airline has also announced an expansion of services from Manchester airport, which will be welcomed by travellers throughout the northwest.
Virgin is set to launch a route to Las Vegas from summer 2024, operated by its A350-1000 aircraft configured with 16 Upper Class, 56 Premium and 325 economy seats as well as the carrier’s new social space ‘The Booth’ within the Upper Class cabin. Fares for this service start from £770 in economy.
Virgin had another slice of leisure travel news, announcing that it will be launching inter-island flights in the Caribbean from June 14 as it ramps up its presence in the region.
Passengers will be able to fly between Barbados and Grenada or St Vincent and the Grenadines. Twice-weekly flights will be operated by A330-300 aircraft, increasing to three times weekly from October.
Economy fares start from USD$307 for the service, which is economy-only and includes a complimentary light snack and IFE options.
Virgin Atlantic Holidays will also incorporate the connections between the islands into packages for guests.
This comes as the airline increases its flights to St Vincent and the Grenadines to three-times-weekly this winter.
