TAT Welcomes Virgin Atlantic's Inaugural London Heathrow–Phuket Flight

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) reported on 19 October 2026 that it welcomed Virgin Atlantic flight VS214 from London Heathrow at Phuket International Airport, the first flight on a new seasonal non-stop route. The inaugural flight left Heathrow on 18 October and arrived in Phuket on 19 October.

According to TAT, the service operates three times weekly during the 2026–2027 UK winter season and runs until 26 March 2027. TAT says the three weekly winter flights add 774 inbound seats to Phuket. Heathrow departures are on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays at 15:45, arriving in Phuket at 09:55 the following day; Phuket departures are on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 11:45, arriving at Heathrow at 19:25. TAT states that the inaugural flight was fully booked, with all 258 seats occupied.

TAT Deputy Governor for International Marketing (Europe, the Americas, the Middle East and Africa), Chiravadee Khunsub, is quoted: "Virgin Atlantic's new service gives UK travellers greater access to Phuket during the winter season." TAT says it is working with airline and travel trade partners under its "Airline Focus" and "Value over Volume" directions to turn additional flight capacity into high-value tourism that can benefit Phuket and nearby destinations.

On the UK market, TAT reports that arrivals passed one million for the first time in 2025, and that Thailand received 682,684 UK visitors from 1 January to 3 September 2026. TAT also gives an average UK stay of 14.18 days and an average spend of 61,615 baht per person per trip.

Source: Tourism Authority of Thailand, TAT Newsroom, "TAT welcomes Virgin Atlantic inaugural London Heathrow–Phuket flight", published 19 October 2026.