Virgin Atlantic has touched down in Seoul, South Korea, marking the launch of its new daily service between London Heathrow and Incheon International Airport, opening up a vibrant new destination for UK travellers.
Today’s VS208 was met on the tarmac in Incheon with celebrations alongside Corneel Koster, Chief Executive Officer, Virgin Atlantic, representatives from Incheon International Airport Corporation and the Korea Tourism Organisation.
Operating daily on a Boeing 787-9, the new customer and cargo route marks Virgin Atlantic’s continued expansion eastwards, building on recent growth across India and the wider Asia-Pacific region. Launched on 29 March 2026, Virgin Atlantic is the only British flag carrier flying direct between the UK and South Korea, unlocking new travel and trade opportunities to one of the world’s most exciting destinations.
Launching at the peak of the ‘Korean Wave’ of culture taking the world by storm, the new route will allow customers to embrace all things ‘K’ from K-pop and K-beauty to film, fashion and food that can be found along the neon-lit streets of Seoul, the beaches of Busan and beyond.
As a full-service carrier, Virgin Atlantic offers three cabins – Upper Class, Premium and Economy – each including complementary food, drink and entertainment. In Upper Class, passengers enjoy signature social spaces such as the onboard bar on Boeing 787s, while all cabins reflect the airline’s distinctive, design-led experience. The airline’s award-winning, personalised service has been elevated on Seoul flights to include Korean touches, with menus developed alongside chefs and local partners to showcase the best of Korean cuisine as well as signature Western dishes. Customers can also enjoy over 1,900 hours of entertainment, including Korean TV and film, delivered by Virgin Atlantic’s world famous cabin crew, including locally based Korean team members.
At London Heathrow, eligible customers can experience the recently refurbished Clubhouse, featuring wellness-focused spaces, private work pods, a cinema, Somadome meditation pods and an exclusive Royal Box VIP area.
Through Virgin Atlantic’s close partnership with Korean Air, customers can connect through Seoul to an abundance of new Northeast Asian destinations such as Osaka, Nagoya, Tokyo Haneda, Tokyo Narita, Fukuoka, Okinawa and Hokkaido in Japan, Sydney and Brisbane in Australia, Auckland in New Zealand, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang in Vietnam and Hong Kong. In addition, our customers can enjoy benefits across our SkyTeam partners operating at Incheon including Vietnam Airlines, China Eastern, China Airlines, Garuda Indonesia and Xiamen Airlines.
Additionally, Virgin Atlantic Holidays customers can now enjoy curated trips across South Korea and Japan, combining Seoul with destinations such as Kyoto and Osaka, with hand-picked hotels and tailored experiences.
Corneel Koster, Chief Executive Officer, Virgin Atlantic, commented:“South Korean culture is having a real moment and we’re delighted to be part of it. Our new direct London Heathrow to Seoul service marks an exciting new chapter as we expand our passenger and cargo network, strengthening the UK’s ties with South Korea – the world’s 12th largest economy and home to thriving ‘K’ industries spanning travel, tech and beauty.
“As the only British flag carrier flying between our two capital cities, we’re opening up new opportunities for collaboration, customer choice and seamless connections with our SkyTeam partners across the Indo-Pacific and introducing our award-winning premium experience, delivered by our amazing crew.”
Bum-ho Kim, Acting President and CEO, Incheon International Airport Corporation said: “Recently, Incheon Airport successfully completed its fourth construction, transforming into a global mega-hub ranked third in the world with a capacity of 106 million passengers annually. I am confident that when Incheon Airport’s world-class smart infrastructure and eco-friendly platforms combine with Virgin Atlantic’s sophisticated and stylish service, we will provide passengers with an extraordinary travel experience beyond anything they have felt before.”
Kyung Soo Yang, Executive Vice President of the International Tourism Division, Korea Tourism Organisation, said: “We are committed to broadening Korea’s international visitor base by expanding our presence in long-haul markets such as Europe. The launch of Virgin Atlantic’s new route marks an important milestone in strengthening tourism ties between the UK and Korea. Building on this momentum, we will work closely with airline and travel industry partners to drive continued growth in visitor arrivals from the UK in 2026 and beyond.”
