Virgin Atlantic begins London–Phuket flights to boost Thai tourism
Virgin Atlantic’s new three-times-weekly service from London Heathrow to Phuket aims to increase spending by UK visitors and spread economic benefits along Thailand’s Andaman coast.
- Virgin Atlantic has launched a new direct flight service from London Heathrow to Phuket, operating three times a week to cater for the peak tourist season.
- The new route increases the total number of direct weekly flights between the UK and Phuket to 11, adding over 3,000 seats in passenger capacity per month.
- This initiative is part of Thailand's strategy to attract more affluent British visitors, focusing on increasing tourism revenue rather than just visitor numbers.
- The inaugural flight alone is projected to generate THB17.4 million in tourism revenue, reinforcing the UK's position as one of Thailand's top five international markets.
Virgin Atlantic's inaugural direct flight from London Heathrow arrived at Phuket International Airport on Monday (October 19), bringing 258 passengers to the southern Thai island as it prepares for the peak tourism season.
The passengers, many of whom were travelling as families, were welcomed by representatives of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and Phuket International Airport.
The new route marks Virgin Atlantic's entry into direct air services between London and Phuket, creating additional travel opportunities for British holidaymakers.
New route expands direct flights from the UK
Chiravadee Khunsub, TAT Deputy Governor for International Marketing – Europe, the Americas, the Middle East and Africa, explained that the airline's three weekly flights would make Phuket more accessible to travellers from the United Kingdom.
Together with existing services operated by Norse Atlantic Airways and TUI UK, the addition brings the number of direct flights between the UK and Phuket to 11 per week, increasing monthly passenger capacity by more than 3,000 seats.
The additional connectivity is particularly important for attracting affluent British visitors who prefer extended holidays in warmer destinations during Europe's colder months.
This approach supports TAT's Value over Volume strategy, which prioritises tourism revenue and visitor spending rather than focusing solely on increasing arrival numbers.
Inaugural flight expected to generate THB17.4 million
The first London–Phuket service is projected to generate approximately THB17.4 million in tourism revenue for Thailand. Advance bookings for Phuket during the peak season have also increased by more than 17.5%, indicating continued demand for travel from the British market.
British visitors stay in Thailand for an average of more than 14 days, creating opportunities for tourism spending to benefit hotels, restaurants, service providers and local communities.
TAT also plans to strengthen Phuket's position as a gateway to tourism destinations along the Andaman coast, encouraging visitors to extend their journeys to Phang Nga, Krabi and Surat Thani.
The initiative will also promote responsible and sustainable tourism, with greater emphasis on distributing economic benefits beyond Phuket's established tourist areas.
UK tourism revenue forecast to reach THB71.6 billion
Thailand received 759,640 visitors from the United Kingdom between January 1 and October 14, 2026, with average expenditure estimated at THB68,720 per person per trip.
TAT forecasts that British visitors will generate approximately THB71.605 billion in tourism revenue throughout 2026, making the UK one of Thailand's five largest international tourism markets by revenue.
The launch of Virgin Atlantic's London–Phuket connection is expected to strengthen the island's competitiveness as an international holiday destination while supporting the expansion of Thailand's long-haul tourism market.
By improving direct access from the UK and encouraging travel to neighbouring provinces, tourism authorities hope to increase visitor spending and spread the economic benefits more widely throughout southern Thailand.
