LONDON – Virgin Atlantic is set to launch non-stop flights from London Heathrow to Phuket, Thailand’s best-known island escape. The seasonal route begins on 18 October 2026, three times a week, using Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners.
It will be the only direct service from the UK capital to Phuket International Airport, giving British travellers a simple route to the winter sun without a change of planes. The move comes as the airline adds more eastbound options alongside its transatlantic network.
The carrier says the Phuket service will give customers easy access to one of Southeast Asia’s most popular beach destinations. Departures from Heathrow, flight VS214, are planned for Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays at midday.
The 6,158-mile journey takes just over 12 hours, with arrival early the next morning. The return, VS215, leaves Phuket on Thursdays, Saturdays and Mondays in the early morning, touching down in London mid-afternoon after a little over 13 hours.
Phuket delivers more than nightlife at Patong and views from the Big Buddha. Travellers can expect ethical elephant experiences without riding, eco-minded stays on dramatic coasts, and street food favourites such as som tam.
Virgin Atlantic Holidays has packages on sale from 30 October 2025, starting at £999 per person for seven nights in a four-star hotel, or £1,599 for five-star stays. Prices include return Economy Classic flights and taxes. On board, travellers get complimentary meals, a strong film and TV line-up, and a 258-seat cabin layout split across Upper Class, Premium and Economy.
This is not the airline’s first step into Asia, with Seoul set to start in spring 2026. Phuket will be its longest route to date, reflecting the island’s strong draw. Connections are straightforward for flyers from New York JFK, with under two hours’ transfer time at Heathrow on many itineraries. Sales open on 26 November 2025, alongside the airline’s leisure routes to the Maldives and the Caribbean.
Virgin Atlantic Joins United and Air Canada
While Virgin targets Phuket, the focus from North America is on Bangkok. United Airlines is bringing back daily direct service from Los Angeles to Suvarnabhumi Airport from 26 October 2025, the first time since 2014. It is the only US carrier flying this route. The return comes after Thailand regained FAA Category 1 status.
The flight is direct rather than non-stop. A short stop in Hong Kong is included, but passengers stay on the Boeing 787-9 for the entire journey. UA820 departs LAX at 11.15 p.m., arriving in Bangkok at 11.25 a.m. two days later, a 19 to 20-hour trip. UA821 leaves Bangkok at 4.55 p.m., landing in Los Angeles at 8.25 p.m. the same day.
The aircraft carries 257 passengers across Polaris business, Premium Plus and Economy. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) says the route improves West Coast access and supports Bangkok’s position as a key gateway. United’s hubs at Los Angeles and San Francisco offer onward links to more than 75 cities across the Americas.
Air Canada is also keeping its Vancouver to Bangkok route, the only non-stop link between North America and Thailand. Launched in December 2022 as a winter seasonal, it now runs year-round due to strong demand, with four weekly flights on Boeing 787s.
AC65 leaves YVR at 11 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, covering 7,330 miles in 16 hours to reach Bangkok at 5.55 a.m., two days later. AC66 departs Bangkok at 8.30 a.m., arriving in Vancouver at 6.35 a.m. the same day after about 13 hours. Air Canada’s network team says the service strengthens its transpacific position at YVR, with timings suited to both business and leisure trips.
These links are about more than convenience. United’s return is expected to send thousands of extra US visitors to Bangkok’s temples and markets. Air Canada’s steady presence deepens Canada’s cultural ties with Thailand across food, film, festivals, Muay Thai and fashion, as TAT frames it.
TAT’s Shift in Focus: Winning Back Western Travellers
Behind the new capacity sits a clear plan from TAT. Tourism accounts for roughly a tenth of Thailand’s economy, yet 2025 brought headwinds. Foreign arrivals fell 6 percent to 33.4 million, below the 35.5 million forecast.
The drop was driven by a sharp fall in Chinese visitors. Numbers slid 32.7 percent to 1.96 million in January to May, down from 2.91 million a year earlier. Weaker demand from China, a stronger baht over the past 17 months, and safety concerns after viral incidents all played a part. Arrivals from India also cooled as travellers looked to regional rivals such as Vietnam.
TAT is leaning into markets in North America, the UK and Europe to balance the shortfall. The first quarter of 2025 brought modest gains from the US and Canada. Europe’s long-haul visitors, often drawn to luxury villas in Phuket, tend to spend more per trip.
TAT’s leadership says the strategy now prioritizes revenue per visitor. The target is 3.4 trillion baht, about 100 billion US dollars, despite fewer arrivals. While pushes like “Nihao Month” still target secondary Chinese cities, the broader plan spreads risk by courting niche segments, from Himalayan trekkers to wellness travellers from the Middle East.
Phuket is central to this pivot. The island sees around 9 million visitors a year and offers more than beaches. Wellness retreats in Kamala, coral-friendly snorkelling in the Similan Islands, and community tours suit eco-minded Europeans. Bangkok is also being reintroduced. TAT’s “Amazing Thailand” refresh highlights lesser-known draws such as Ayutthaya’s ruins, to ease pressure on crowded spots.
Challenges remain. April arrivals fell 7.6 percent to 2.54 million after Songkran, showing how fragile demand can be. Malaysia overtook China as the top source market that month. Regional competition is fierce. Japan welcomed 21.5 million visitors in the first half, up 21 percent, helped by a weak yen. TAT’s response includes tighter security measures, new bilateral agreements, and partnerships with platforms like Trip.com to drive bookings.
As Virgin’s Dreamliners prepare for 2026, Thailand’s route map points to recovery. For travellers, the message is clear. Phuket’s beaches and Bangkok’s street food are within easy reach once again.
For more on TAT initiatives, visit www.tatnews.org. Virgin Atlantic details at corporate.virginatlantic.com. United and Air Canada schedules via their official sites.
