Virgin Atlantic is plotting its return to Mexico, with the airline planning to launch a route to Cancun.
The airline is planning a new route, operating three weekly flights from London Heathrow to Cancun, commencing in Winter 2025.
These will launch on the 19th of October 2025, providing easy access to Central America, with onward connections provided by SkyTeam partner Aeromexico and codeshare partner LATAM to destinations including Mexico City, Santiago, Buenos Aries and Lima.
Virgin Atlantic is planning the following operations:
VS093 DEPART LHR 10:10 ARRIVE CUN 16:15 VS094 DEPART CUN 18:45 ARRIVE LHR 09:05+1 Commences 19th October 2025 Operates Wednesdays, Fridays and Sunday in the Winter Season Three times weekly (Wed, Fri, Sun) Winter season, launching 19 October 2025 Booked Equipment: Airbus A350-1000
To support operating this route, Virgin Atlantic will deploy an Airbus A350-1000 on it. This comprises 16 Upper Class, 56 Premium and 325 Economy (Delight, Classic and Light) seats. The aircraft also features the airline’s Upper Class social space, The Booth. The Booth extends the airline’s world-renowned Clubhouse experience to the skies, offering a wide range of cocktails, dining options and wine tasting in a social setting.
Customers in the Upper Class cabin can enjoy luxe comfort and high-end finishes, with 44” pitch suites, with a fully flat bed length of up to 82”. Those travelling in the Premium and Economy cabins with generous seating and storage space.
Lead-in prices have been announced from £562 in Economy class, with ticketing opening on Wednesday 4 December 2024/
In Quotes
Juha Jarvinen, Chief Commercial Offer, Virgin Atlantic, commented,
“We’re delighted to be returning to Cancun, offering customers a new destination for some winter sun. Cancun has an amazing nightlife and dining scene, dreamy sandy beaches, plus it’s the perfect gateway to Mayan ruins and adventure travel in the region. Our new route also offers increased connectivity to the region with our codseshare partner LATAM and SkyTeam partner Aeromexico. We can’t wait for more of our customers to enjoy Virgin Atlantic’s trademark fiesta and flair, on their way to Mexico.”
Andres Martinez, Director of the Tourism Promotion Council of Quintana Roo, said:
“In this New Era of the Mexican Caribbean, expanding international connectivity has been a top priority as travellers continue to showcase strong interest in exploring our twelve iconic destinations and rich Mayan culture. The addition of this Virgin Atlantic flight from London Heathrow to Cancun will further strengthen Cancun International Airport’s position as one of the most in-demand airports in the world, and we look forward to welcoming new and returning visitors from the United Kingdom to our paradise.”
A Leisurely return to Mexico.
In the past, Virgin Atlantic operated to Cancun – indicating the airline is willing to have another crack at the route with a three-times-a-week service.
It’s positioned the route for a winter 2025 sun destination for those who don’t fancy travelling to the USA or the Middle East, which should offer a lot of options to holidaymakers – as well as those who wish to enter Mexico from the UK from a point other than Mexico City.
Whilst it is the only direct London route, Virgin Atlantic will have transatlantic competition in the form of Biriths Airways (who fly there from Gatwick), Austrain Airline, Air Europa (Mardid), Air Caraïbes, Air France, Condor, Discovery Airlines, Edelweiss Air, IbreoJet, KLM, LOT, Lufthansa, Neos, TAP Air Portgual and TUIFly.
That’s a lot of competition.
We’ll have to see if the route is sustainable beyond Winter 2025 – and if it gets a service uplift.
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Cancun sounds like an LGW route. Also, an A35K, with so few business class seats? I didn’t know those existed!
It does… but remeber, Virgin don’t have anything out in Gatwick anymore after 2020.
As for the configration – its true – https://www.aerolopa.com/vs-351-2. Very much a lesuire traffic aircrat, rather than one you’d send on New York flight.