LONDON- UK-based carrier, Virgin Atlantic (VS), inaugurates daily flights to Toronto (YYZ), Canada, and Riyadh (RUH), Saudi Arabia today (March 30, 2025), expanding its global network with two strategic new routes.
The airline has returned to Toronto Pearson Airport after more than a decade, reconnecting two major financial centers while strengthening its links to India via London Heathrow (LHR).
Virgin Atlantic Flights
The Toronto service enhances Virgin Atlantic’s North American presence as part of the $17 billion revenue North Atlantic joint venture with Delta Air Lines (DL), Air France (AF), and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KL).
The airline has also expanded its partnership with WestJet (WS) to offer seamless connections across Canada from Toronto to destinations including Calgary, Vancouver, and Ottawa.
Virgin Atlantic enters the Saudi Arabian market for the first time, operating its newest Airbus A330-900neo aircraft on the Riyadh route. The service aims to participate in the growth projected under Saudi Vision 2030, following executive visits to the Kingdom that highlighted the region’s rapid development.
The airline has established a codeshare partnership with SAUDI AIRLINES (SV) to enhance connectivity and deliver benefits to loyal customers across the SkyTeam alliance. This arrangement will provide passengers with more options throughout both networks.
These new routes from London Heathrow will facilitate global connections for business travelers while helping reunite families and friends across continents. The expansion demonstrates Virgin Atlantic’s commitment to providing its distinctive service experience across an increasingly diverse international network.
| Route | Launch date | Frequency | Time | Aircraft Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Riyadh (RUH) | 30 March 2025 | Daily | LHR-RUH VS242 14:45 / 23:35 RUH – LHR VS243 01:25 / 07:00 | A330neo |
| Toronto (YYZ) | 30 March 2025 | Daily | LHR – YYZ VS147 17:10/ 20:30YYZ – LHR VS148 20:20/ 10:30 (+1) | A330-300 and A330neo |
London to Toronto Flights
Virgin Atlantic has resumed service to Canada with daily flights connecting London Heathrow and Toronto Pearson International Airport. The route provides enhanced connectivity for passengers traveling between North America and India, with connections to Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Delhi via London.
The Toronto service operates as part of Virgin Atlantic’s collaborative network with Air France, Delta, KLM, and Canadian carrier WestJet, strengthening the airline’s transatlantic presence.
Juha Jarvinen, Chief Commercial Officer at Virgin Atlantic, highlighted the significance of these new routes in connecting friends, relatives, and businesses across continents. He emphasized the airline’s expanded partnership with Saudia and expressed enthusiasm about introducing Virgin Atlantic’s distinctive brand and service to new markets in Saudi Arabia, Ghana, and Canada.
Riyadh Flights
Virgin Atlantic’s daily flights to King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh aim to capitalize on Saudi Arabia’s economic transformation driven by Vision 2030.
The route positions the airline to support growing trade between the UK and Saudi Arabia, which reached £17.1 billion in 2023 and is projected to increase to £30 billion by 2030. Air travel between the two countries is expected to grow 24% from 2019 to 2035.
Riyadh’s rapid development makes it an increasingly attractive destination, with new business districts, an F1 circuit, and entertainment complexes. The city also serves as a gateway to Saudi Arabia’s UNESCO World Heritage sites.
The service targets Saudi Arabian customers traveling to the UK and connecting to North American destinations through Virgin Atlantic and Delta networks. It also addresses the expanding “visiting friends and relatives” market, reflecting a fivefold increase in Saudis residing in the UK between 2000 and 2018.
Virgin Atlantic will deploy its advanced A330neo aircraft on the Riyadh route, providing 30 tonnes of cargo capacity per flight. This will enable the transport of fresh produce, pharmaceuticals, and specialized goods between Riyadh and key markets in the UK and the US.
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