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News / Annyeong Seoul! Virgin Atlantic touches down in South Korea
The only British flag carrier operating the route, connecting the UK with one of the world’s fastest-growing cultural and economic powerhouses

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.
| Route Facts | |
| Aircraft type | Boeing 787 31 Upper Class, 35 Premium Economy, 192 Economy seats |
| Current route frequency | Daily |
| Flight timings and flight number | LHR – ICN – VS208 – 13:25 / 10:05 (next day arrival) ICN – LHR – VS209– 12:25 / 18:50 |
| First flight | 29 March 2026 |
| Fares | Fares from the UK start from £889 Economy, £1,489 Premium, and £3,239 Upper Class, while roundtrip fares departing Seoul start from KRW846,000 (£426) Economy, KRW1,840,000 (£927) Premium, and KRW3,846,000 (£1,938) Upper Class |
| Virgin Atlantic Holiday package | London Heathrow to Seoul from £1499pp Prices are per person based on two adults travelling in May 2026, staying for 5 nights at the 4* Best Western Premier Gangnam in a Double Room on Room Only basis. Price includes return Economy Classic flights from London Heathrow to Seoul and include all applicable taxes and fuel surcharges which are correct at time of publishing and are subject to change. Bookings are subject to availability and standard terms and conditions apply. Virgin Atlantic Holidays reserves the right to (i) withdraw the promoted price (ii) cancel or change the advertised price, (iii) amend these terms and conditions at any time if circumstances make this necessary and without further notice. For full Virgin Atlantic Standard Terms and Conditions please visit virginatlantic.com/holidays/customer-support/terms-and-conditions. |











