Virgin Atlantic to fly to Canada for first time in 10 years in broader 3-route expansion

07.09.2024 - 17:47 / thepointsguy.com

Virgin Atlantic is expanding its network with the addition of three "new" destinations.

The U.K.-based carrier announced this week that it would add service to Accra, Ghana; Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; and Toronto for the upcoming summer season.

To start, Virgin will fly from its hub at London's Heathrow Airport (LHR) to Toronto Pearson Airport (YYZ) on a daily basis beginning on March 30, 2025.

The Toronto flight will be operated by a mix of the Airbus A330-300 and the Airbus A330-900neo, and I'd recommend choosing the latter if you're flexible. Virgin's A330neo is the newest jet in the carrier's fleet and features the Retreat Suite and The Loft social space for business-class passengers.

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For those based in North America, Virgin's return to Canada — and Toronto in particular — has been a long time coming. The carrier last flew to Vancouver in October 2014, according to Cirium schedules, but Toronto service was scrapped back in 2001.

In addition to Toronto, Virgin will also launch flights from LHR to Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport (RUH) on March 30, 2025. These daily flights will operate exclusively using the Airbus A330neo.

Finally, Virgin's expansion includes a return to Accra, which the airline last served in 2013. This route from London to Accra will launch on May 1 and be operated by the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

Interestingly, Riyadh is the only true "new" destination for Virgin, since the airline has previously operated flights to Accra and Toronto.

That said, the expansion comes as the carrier sees strong indicators to suggest the timing is right to reenter these markets.

In Canada, Virgin says its flight will be supported by travelers heading to India via London. It flies to the Indian cities of Bengaluru, Delhi and Mumbai.

Plus, the airline will market the flight as part of its joint venture with Air France, Delta and KLM. It'll operate in partnership with Virgin's Canadian partner, Westjet, which altogether can offer many more one-stop itineraries.

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Meanwhile, Virgin believes that its return to Ghana will be successful because the market needs more competition. The route from London to Accra is currently operated exclusively by British Airways with daily flights from LHR and three-times-weekly flights from London Gatwick Airport (LGW).

This flight is designed to appeal to VFR (visiting friends and relatives) traffic, Virgin said. The U.K. is home to one of the world's largest Ghanaian diaspora populations, and about 10% of travelers on this route are expected to connect onward to New York — another major hub for Ghanaians.

"Riyadh and