“Canada, we’ve missed you” – Virgin Atlantic is back with daily Toronto-London service

Wherever Sir Richard Branson goes, there’s always lots of excitement and when he touched down in Toronto yesterday (April 3) to mark Virgin Atlantic’s return to Canada, it was time for celebration.

And certainly, there are lots of reasons to celebrate as Virgin Atlantic launches direct service between Toronto Pearson International and London Heathrow.

It is the airline’s first Canadian route since 2014 and will connect Toronto to London, linking the two global financial hubs.

“Canada, we’ve missed you! It’s been more than a decade, but we’re back and here to do it properly. I’m delighted to see Virgin Atlantic’s return to Toronto, a city with so much spirit and energy. With our incredible crew, exceptional service, and a strong network of partners, we can’t wait to welcome customers onboard,” observed Sir Richard Branson, President of Virgin Atlantic and Founder of Virgin Group.

Virgin Atlantic’s new daily flights will be operated on a Boeing 787-9 and the service is expected to carry over 165,000 customers annually, while also offering up to 20 tonnes of cargo capacity for high-tech goods and e-commerce.

Growing transatlantic presence

Virgin Atlantic’s return supports its growing transatlantic presence, building on recent expansion in India to now offer seamless one-stop connections via London Heathrow to key Indian cities including Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru, with an average transit time of just 1 hour and 20 minutes. Customers can also connect effortlessly to Johannesburg, Lagos, Tel Aviv, and Beirut via codeshare and interline partnerships.

Juha Jarvinen, Chief Commercial Officer, Virgin Atlantic said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to be back in Canada. We’ve long wanted to return – and this time, we’re here to stay.”

Jarvinen continued: “Toronto is not only a thriving financial hub, but also a gateway to one of the most vibrant and diverse countries in the world. With our strong transatlantic focus, expanded connectivity to India, and exciting new partnership with WestJet, the timing couldn’t be better.”

Canadian connections

Virgin Atlantic’s new service will also offer greater connections within Canada as part of an expanded codeshare partnership with WestJet.

The two airlines will be conveniently co-located at Toronto Pearson International Airport’s Terminal 3, allowing customers to connect through Toronto to 13 destinations across Canada, including Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, Winnipeg, and Ottawa with loyalty program benefits across Virgin Atlantic Flying Club and WestJet Rewards expected to launch later this year.

John Weatherill, Executive Vice-President and Chief Commercial Officer, WestJet, said: “We are proud to welcome Virgin Atlantic back to Canada! Through our expanded partnership, together we are able to deliver unmatched value and convenience to our guests.”

And Weatherill noted that: “With our co-location at Toronto-Pearson Terminal 3 our guests can enjoy a smooth journey on one ticket with through baggage check-in across both of our networks, connecting all of Canada with Virgin Atlantic’s global network to London and beyond.”

The launch also strengthens Virgin Atlantic’s Joint Venture with Delta Air Lines and Air France-KLM, who together operate over 100 flights per week between Europe and seven Canadian gateways, reinforcing transatlantic choice and flexibility for customers.

Roundtrip fares departing from Toronto start from CAD $1,101 Economy, CAD $2,516 Premium, and CAD $3,739 Upper Class

Go to www.virginatlantic.com for more.