Virgin Atlantic, founded by entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson in 1984, has been expanding its operations across the globe over the years with the aim to provide affordable and comfortable air travel to its passengers. In another feather in the cap, the airlines has officially launched its second daily direct service from London Heathrow (LHR) to Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM). This move doubles the airline’s capacity on the popular route, catering to the increasing demand for premium travel between these two major cities. The airlines was voted Britain’s only Global Five Star Airline by APEX for the seventh year running in the Official Airline Ratings in 2023.
The addition of this service marks a significant milestone, as it becomes Virgin Atlantic’s fifth daily flight to India. In 2025, Virgin Atlantic plans to operate close to 1 million seats in India. India has emerged as Virgin Atlantic’s largest growth market outside of the United States, highlighting the importance of the region to the airline’s global strategy.
The new service is operated by Virgin Atlantic’s state-of-the-art Airbus A350-1000 aircraft, designed to provide passengers with an unparalleled travel experience. The A350-1000 features three cabin classes—Upper Class, Premium, and Economy—offering a blend of luxury, comfort, and modern amenities.
Upper Class passengers enjoy fully flat beds, private suites with mood lighting, and the airline’s largest in-flight entertainment screens (18.5 inches). Premium cabin travelers benefit from custom leather seats, 13.3-inch entertainment screens, extra storage, and increased reclining options. Economy, passengers can relax with 11.6-inch seatback screens, USB ports, and plush woven fabrics designed for long-haul comfort.
The aircraft is also equipped with quieter engines, advanced air filtration systems, larger panoramic windows, and spacious overhead bins, making it ideal for long-haul flights like the London-Mumbai route.
In addition to enhancing the passenger experience, Virgin Atlantic’s A350-1000 supports India’s booming trade sectors. This expanded capacity will benefit key industries such as fashion, pharmaceuticals, and technology, ensuring seamless transport of goods between the UK and India.
Virgin Atlantic’s expansion in India reflects its commitment to delivering exceptional travel experiences while supporting critical trade and business ties between the two countries.
Shivani Singh Deo, Country Manager Virgin Atlantic said, “India presents a tremendous opportunity for us, thanks to its dynamic and rapidly growing economy. Mumbai is an essential market for Virgin Atlantic, and we’ve witnessed significant demand for premium travel experiences on this route. The impressive growth in our Upper Class and Premium cabins reflects the preferences of the discerning Indian traveller on one of the youngest fleets in the skies, with our signature service delivered by our dedicated team. Next year marks 25 years of our operations in India, and our second daily flight from London Heathrow to Mumbai showcases our dedication to delivering exceptional service and connectivity for our valued customers in India.”
In October 2022, Virgin Atlantic welcomed the first of 16 A330-900neos to the fleet, continuing its transformation towards 100% next generation aircraft by 2028. In November 2023, the airline led a consortium to deliver the world’s first flight across the Atlantic on 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), demonstrating that 100% SAF can be used safely as a drop in fuel in existing infrastructure, engines and airframes.
