New Route Alert: Virgin Atlantic Launches Heathrow - Phuket, American to Fly Edinburgh - New York
- Sam
- Oct 30
- 2 min read
Virgin Atlantic has announced a new seasonal service between London Heathrow and Phuket, operating three times weekly from 18th October 2026. The route will be flown on the Boeing 787-9, with flights departing London on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays at midday, arriving the following morning at 7:10am. Return services leave Phuket at 9:20am arriving back at Heathrow at 4:00pm.
Package holidays through Virgin Atlantic Holidays go on sale from 30th October 2025, with flight-only bookings available from 26th November 2025. As Virgin prices their points flights dynamically due to demand, we will not likely know what prices to expect until flights go on sale.
The timing is telling - this is clearly an aircraft utilisation play during the quieter winter months on the transatlantic network. Rather running half-empty flights to New York and Boston when demand drops off, Virgin Atlantic is redeploying capacity to feed its holiday business.
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This makes Virgin Atlantic the second UK carrier with direct Phuket flights after TUI, though Virgin's Heathrow Heathrow gives it access to a different customer base, including connecting traffic from over the Atlantic. The airline has tied up a partnership with Bangkok Airways for onward connections to Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Hat Yai, Koh Samui, and Pattaya. We flew Bangkok Airways earlier this year, and we think it could be the best little airline you've never heard of!
American Launches Edinburgh - JFK
American Airlines is bringing back its Edinburgh to New York JFK service for next summer, operating daily between 8th March and 24th October using their brand new A321XLR. Flights depart Edinburgh at 10:30am, arriving into JFK at 12:30pm, with the return leaving at 9:00pm, landing back in Edinburgh at 8:30am the following morning.
The A321XLR is the real story here - American is using Edinburgh to debut this aircraft. The aircraft gives the carrier flexibility to serve quieter routes that can't support a bigger widebody plane, and Edinburgh-JFK is clearly in that sweet spot where there's demand but not enough to justify a 777. If you're a bit of a nerd for these things (like me!), Youtuber Wendover Productions has an excellent video explaining American Airlines post-covid own-goals!
The aircraft is configured with 20 Flagship Suite business class seats, 12 Premium Economy and 123 Main Cabin economy seats.
American Airlines uses their own miles scheme called Advantage, but flights on American can also be bought on the British Airways website using Avios, so keep an eye out!
Tickets go on sale 3rd November.
Sam
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