ANNYEONG SEOUL! VIRGIN ATLANTIC TOUCHES SOUTH KOREA | News
Virgin Atlantic has landed in Seoul, South Korea, to mark the launch of its new daily service between London Heathrow and Incheon International Airport, opening up a vibrant new destination for British travellers.
Today’s VS208 took to the tarmac in Incheon with celebrations joined by Corneel Koster, Chief Executive Officer of Virgin Atlantic, representatives from Incheon International Airport Corporation and the Korea Tourism Organization.
The new customer and freight route, which will operate daily with a Boeing 787-9, marks Virgin Atlantic’s continued expansion eastwards, building on recent growth in India and the wider Asia-Pacific region. Launching on March 29, 2026, Virgin Atlantic is the only British flag carrier to fly directly between Britain and South Korea, bringing new travel and trade opportunities to one of the world’s most exciting destinations.
Launched at the height 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 found along the neon-lit streets of Seoul, the beaches of Busan and beyond.
As a full-service airline, Virgin Atlantic offers three cabins – Upper Class, Premium and Economy – each including complimentary food, drinks and entertainment. In Upper Class, passengers enjoy signature social areas such as the bar on board Boeing 787s, while all cabins reflect the airline’s signature design-led experience. The airline’s award-winning, personalized service has been taken to the next level on flights to Seoul with Korean accents, with menus developed with chefs and local partners to showcase the best of Korean cuisine and signature Western dishes. Customers can also enjoy more than 1,900 hours of entertainment, including Korean TV and film, delivered by Virgin Atlantic’s world-renowned cabin crew, including locally based Korean team members.
At London Heathrow, eligible customers can experience the newly renovated clubhouse, featuring wellness-focused spaces, private work pods, a cinema, Somadome meditation pods and an exclusive Royal Box VIP area.
Virgin Atlantic’s close partnership with Korean Air allows customers to connect via Seoul to a plethora of new destinations in Northeast Asia, including 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 with our SkyTeam partners operating in Incheon, including Vietnam Airlines, China Eastern, China Airlines, Garuda Indonesia and Xiamen Airlines.
In addition, Virgin Atlantic Holidays customers can now enjoy curated tours of South Korea and Japan, combining Seoul with destinations such as Kyoto and Osaka, with carefully selected hotels and tailor-made experiences.
Corneel Koster, Chief Executive Officer of Virgin Atlantic, commented: “South Korean culture is having a real moment and we’re thrilled to be part of it. Our new direct service from London Heathrow to Seoul marks an exciting new chapter as we expand our passenger and freight network, strengthening Britain’s ties with South Korea – the world’s 12th largest economy and home to thriving ‘K’ industries in travel, technology and beauty.
“As the only UK flag carrier flying between our two capitals, we are offering new opportunities for collaboration, customer choice and seamless connections with our SkyTeam partners in the Indo-Pacific and introducing our award-winning premium experience, delivered by our incredible crew.”
Bum-ho Kim, acting president and CEO of Incheon International Airport Corporation said: “Recently, Incheon Airport successfully completed its fourth construction, transforming it into a global mega-hub ranked third in the world with a capacity of 106 million passengers per year. I am confident that when Incheon Airport’s world-class smart infrastructure and eco-friendly platforms are combined with Virgin Atlantic’s advanced and stylish service, we will provide passengers with an extraordinary travel experience they have never felt before.”
Kyung Soo Yang, Executive Vice President of the International Tourism Division, Korea Tourism Organization, said: “We aim to broaden 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 Britain and Korea. Building on this momentum, we will work closely with airline and travel industry partners to support the continued growth of visitors from the United Kingdom in 2026 and beyond encourage.”
