The British-based multinational conglomerate Virgin Group has brands that span many industries. From cruises to airlines to spaceships, the Virgin brand has become quite recognizable around the world. In particular, the signature red tail and white text of Virgin Atlantic aircraft have become an iconic symbol in the airline industry. While the involvement of its eclectic founder, Sir Richard Branson, may increase the noise around this airline, it boasts an impressive fleet.

The first flight for Virgin Atlantic took place on June 22, 1984, between London Gatwick Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport. Today, the airline is a SkyTeam member and operates daily flights on nearly every continent. The airline also holds special partnerships with some of the world’s most prominent airlines, providing true global connectivity. To accomplish this mission, the airline only operates widebody aircraft, primarily from its London Heathrow Airport hub. It’s most popular aircraft, the Boeing 787, is a key factor in the airline’s success.

Fleet Overview

The Virgin Atlantic fleet comprises only four aircraft types: the A330-300, A330neo, A350-1000, and 787-9. The entire widebody Airbus and Boeing fleet has a clear long-haul mission. Among these four, the largest sub-fleet is the 787-9. While the airline used to fly other widebody aircraft, such as the 747 and A330-200, the focus is now on efficiency. Each aircraft in the Virgin fleet today was designed specifically for increased efficiency on long-haul routes.

Source: Virgin Atlantic

The A350-1000 is the ultra-long-range, high-capacity option for Virgin Atlantic. This is the case for many other airlines looking to connect vast corners of the world. The 787-9 and A330 variants help support mid-to-long-range routes. Specifically, the 787-9 complements the Virgin Atlantic network well. This Dreamliner variant is a fuel-efficient, long-haul workhorse. In capacity, it is not as large as the A350-100, but that enables Virgin to operate the 787 on traditionally thinner routes with lower passenger volume. The versatility that the 787-9 variant offers the airline has proven to be a great fit for the mission.

Top 787 Routes Of 2025

The ten most frequent routes on the 787-9 for Virgin Atlantic in 2025 are shown in the table below, according to aviation analytics firm, Cirium. The most frequent flight is a tie between the outbound and return flights between London Heathrow (LHR) and Mumbai Airport (BOM). Each leg will be operated 565 times in 2025, totaling 291,540 seats.

Source: Cirium

Of the ten most frequent 787 flights by Virgin, there are five unique routes. Of the five, two are to India (BOM and BLR), and two are to the United States (SFO and LAX). And every one of Virgin’s most frequent 787 flights is operated out of London Heathrow. This makes sense given that LHR is the main hub for the airline, but it is also a result of location. London’s central location at the front door of Europe makes it the perfect jumping-off point for the 787. Just in the top ten most frequent flights alone, Virgin operates the 787 to India, the West Coast of the United States, and Africa.

Further down the list from Cirium are 787 routes out of LHR to locations such as the Maldives, Dubai, and the Bahamas. This is, of course, in addition to multiple locations across the continental US, from Seattle to Boston, which round out the top 50 most frequent routes.

Virgin Atlantic’s Manchester Ops

Looking at the most frequent 787 routes may lead one to assume that Virgin only operates out of London Heathrow. However, there is also a smaller hub for the airline in Manchester at Manchester Airport. Travelers flying through Manchester can go nonstop to the following popular destinations: Atlanta, New York, Orlando, Las Vegas, and Barbados. However, while the airline does not currently operate the 787-9 on any of these routes, the Manchester hub is a point of interest for the airline.

The Virgin Atlantic « Home in the North » has been the topic of discussion for many who look to Manchester as the most suitable spot for network expansion. For Virgin, the driver will remain demand. As more global markets are introduced to Manchester Airport, demand for increased Virgin Atlantic operations may lead the airline to add routes there. Further, competition from players such as Air Indiamay motivate Virgin to expand its Manchester operations.

The 787 Experience

Virgin Atlantic has made efforts to create a memorable experience with its fleet of 787 aircraft. In fact, Virgin plans to increase the number of premium seats across its fleet, including a redesigned cabin on 14 of its 787-9 aircraft. At the current moment, the 787 cabin is divided into three classes: Upper, Premium, and Economy. There are 31 Upper Class, 35 Premium, and 192 Economy seats in the current configuration. The fleet-wide cabin redesign is not expected to be complete until 2028. Yet, the large 787 windows and distinct Virgin cabin lighting schemes create a unique experience on the aircraft.

For a more detailed look at the experience on the Virgin Atlantic 787, the table below provides dimensional information for each seat. There is no seat pitch dimension for the Upper Class cabin due to the angled nature of the premier, lie-flat seats. Each seat in Upper Class has direct aisle access as well.

Source: Virgin Atlantic

Another effort Virgin makes to create a unique experience on its flights is naming each of its aircraft. For example, some of the names of the 787-9 aircraft are Lady Freedom, Amazing Grace, and Queen Bee. The registration numbers for each of these aircraft are: G-VBEL, G-VBOW, and G-VBZZ, respectively. Every aircraft in the entire Virgin fleet has a special name and registration number. While this is a small detail that largely has no effect on the inflight experience, it is a fun detail that makes the Virgin Atlantic fleet unique.

Strategic Partnerships Expand The Network

While Virgin Atlantic is part of the SkyTeam Alliance, it has a special extended joint venture with Delta Air Lines, KLM, and Air France (other notable SkyTeam members). The partnership began in 2020, and on the surface, the joint venture is geared towards providing an enhanced experience for passengers of the four airlines. This means shared loyalty programs, lounge access, and purposeful flight scheduling to promote seamless connections, among other benefits. An additional focus of the joint venture is on the transatlantic crossing. At the time of its announcement, the joint venture represented about 23% of the total transatlantic passenger and cargo capacity.

The joint venture allows for the sharing of markets as well. For frequent Air France and KLM passengers, the partnership enables easier access to the UK-US market. Furthermore, partnering with Delta allows for expansive reach across the domestic US. Notable Delta hub, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, is the busiest airport in the world, and will diversify and expand Virgin Atlantic’s network.

For Virgin Atlantic customers who simply prefer to fly Virgin, the airline has also committed to expanding its internal offerings as well. Notably, the airline announced it will begin serving Seoul, South Korea, starting in March 2026. The route will be operated by the reliable 787-9.

Final Thoughts

The 787-9 is an essential asset to Virgin Atlantic. It alone serves over one million passengers each year, primarily on flights operating to and from the Virgin Atlantic hub at London Heathrow. The aircraft fits the Virgin Atlantic route network profile well thanks to its long-haul capabilities and flexible cabin. It is deployed to locations all over the world, and offers a unique experience to passengers.

Virgin Atlantic recognizes the importance of the 787-9 to its fleet, choosing it as the plane to serve new routes to Asia. As travel dynamics change over the next few years, Virgin will have to decide how the 787-9 will continue to fit into its fleet. The increased demand for premium seats and increased route flexibility will continue, and it seems that Virgin is ready to meet consumers where they are, with plans to redesign its cabins and open new routes. For now, the 787 will continue to be an important aircraft for Virgin Atlantic.