Virgin cancels flights to Shanghai

Virgin Atlantic is cancelling its only flights to mainland China, arguing that longer flight times and avoidance of Russian airspace make the company financially unviable.

The airline announced that it will discontinue the London-Heathrow-Shanghai route from October 26, 2024.

Virgin has been operating flights to Shanghai for 25 years, apart from a pandemic-related interruption.

The route has become “increasingly expensive”.

Flights from London to Shanghai take an hour longer, the return flight two hours longer.

This means additional costs due to additional crew working time.

Customers who booked flights after October 26 will be contacted this week to arrange a refund.

This marks the end of Virgin Atlantic’s services in East Asia.

Virgin Heathrow’s flights to Hong Kong were discontinued in October 2022 and flights to Tokyo were cancelled in 2015.

“Significant challenges and complexities on this route have contributed to the commercial decision to discontinue service to Shanghai,” Virgin said

The airline could return to the region at some point.

There are vague plans for flights to Seoul once the merger of Korean Air and Asiana is completed.

The airline offered its first flights to Shanghai in 1999.

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Learn more about: Virgin Atlantic (UK)