Virgin Atlantic to fly to Canada for first time in 10 years in broader 3-route expansion
Virgin Atlantic is expanding its network with the addition of three "new" destinations.
The U.K.-based carrier announced this week that it would add service to Accra, Ghana; Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; and Toronto for the upcoming summer season.
To start, Virgin will fly from its hub at London's Heathrow Airport (LHR) to Toronto Pearson Airport (YYZ) on a daily basis beginning on March 30, 2025.
The Toronto flight will be operated by a mix of the Airbus A330-300 and the Airbus A330-900neo, and I'd recommend choosing the latter if you're flexible. Virgin's A330neo is the newest jet in the carrier's fleet and features the Retreat Suite and The Loft social space for business-class passengers.
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For those based in North America, Virgin's return to Canada — and Toronto in particular — has been a long time coming. The carrier last flew to Vancouver in October 2014, according to Cirium schedules, but Toronto service was scrapped back in 2001.
In addition to Toronto, Virgin will also launch flights from LHR to Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport (RUH) on March 30, 2025. These daily flights will operate exclusively using the Airbus A330neo.
Finally, Virgin's expansion includes a return to Accra, which the airline last served in 2013. This route from London to Accra will launch on May 1 and be operated by the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
Interestingly, Riyadh is the only true "new" destination for Virgin, since the airline has previously operated flights to Accra and Toronto.
That said, the expansion comes as the carrier sees strong indicators to suggest the timing is right to reenter these markets.
In Canada, Virgin says its flight will be supported by travelers heading to India via London. It flies to the Indian cities of Bengaluru, Delhi and Mumbai.
Plus, the airline will market the flight as part of its joint venture with Air France, Delta and KLM. It'll operate in partnership with Virgin's Canadian partner, Westjet, which altogether can offer many more one-stop itineraries.
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Meanwhile, Virgin believes that its return to Ghana will be successful because the market needs more competition. The route from London to Accra is currently operated exclusively by British Airways with daily flights from LHR and three-times-weekly flights from London Gatwick Airport (LGW).
This flight is designed to appeal to VFR (visiting friends and relatives) traffic, Virgin said. The U.K. is home to one of the world's largest Ghanaian diaspora populations, and about 10% of travelers on this route are expected to connect onward to New York — another major hub for Ghanaians.
“Riyadh and Accra join Toronto as new routes for summer flying in 2025, and we see huge opportunities to connect friends, relatives and businesses with our new services. We’re also delighted to build on our codeshare with SkyTeam partner Saudia, further strengthening connectivity in the region, and beyond, and bringing new benefits to our loyal customers," Juha Jarvinen, Virgin's chief commercial officer, said in a statement.
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- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
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- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.