A major airline has launched its first direct route from the UK to Thailand’s largest island.
Virgin Atlantic is set to jet off from London Heathrow to Phuket from October 18, 2026.
The new route will operate three times a week on a Boeing 787-9 and packages including the flight are available to book from today (October 30).
It will travel straight to Phuket seasonally over the winter, which is one of Thailand’s most popular holiday spots.
A typical journey from London to Phuket typically involves a stop and can be around 12 hours on average, according to Skyscanner.
TUI does offer a direct route from Manchester and London Gatwick, but this is only from November to April.
Phuket is a popular spot for its stunning beaches and crystal clear waters.
Tourists can explore the twisting streets of old Phuket town and tuck in to a range of local cuisine.
Virgin Atlantic is set to jet off from London Heathrow to Phuket from October 18, 2026
Prices for Virgin Atlantic package holidays to the destination start from £999 per person.
Meanwhile, tickets for the flight will be available to book from November 26, 2025.
Juha Jarvinen, Chief Commercial Officer, Virgin Atlantic, commented: ‘We’re thrilled to introduce our new direct service to Phuket, giving our customers a flavour of one of Southeast Asia’s most captivating destinations.
‘As well as making the trip more convenient, they can enjoy exploring Thailand’s unique heritage, natural beauty and delicious cuisine.
‘We can’t wait for our customers to experience our trademark hospitality on their next unforgettable journey.’
Earlier this year, Virgin Atlantic announced it would be launching another new flying option – in the form of a taxi.
Virgin Atlantic has teamed up with Joby Aviation in a partnership that aims to offer ‘seamless, zero-emission, short-range journeys across the UK’.
The futuristic electric air taxis are designed to carry a pilot and up to four passengers, and can hit impressive speeds of up to 200mph.
It will travel straight to Phuket seasonally over the winter, which is one of Thailand’s most popular holiday spots
This means that the journey between Heathrow and Canary Wharf – which currently takes around 80 minutes by taxi – could be slashed to just eight minutes.
Initially, Virgin Atlantic and Joby will be offering journeys from hubs at London’s Heathrow Airport and Manchester Airport, with a flight from Manchester Airport to Leeds expected to take just 15 minutes.
This same journey, in a car, currently takes around one hour and four minutes.
However, over time, this network could be extended to cities and communities throughout the UK.
A ‘London Hub’ network map shows how customers will be able to hail rides from London and its airports to Birmingham, Norwich, Portsmouth, Brighton, Canterbury, Cambridge, Oxford, and Reading.
