Virgin Atlantic is all set to launch a new direct route between Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) and London Heathrow (LHR), marking the airline’s expansion in North America and into Canada’s financial hub.
The daily service will launch on 30 March 2025 and will operate a mix of its signature aircraft on the route including the A330-900neo, the latest addition to its youngest, greenest fleet. Featuring the airline’s iconic onboard social space, wireless charging, and stylish design touches, Canadians will enjoy connection and comfort at 30,000ft in true Virgin Atlantic style.
The new service will connect two global financial hubs, Toronto and London, servicing top banking and stock market leaders travelling between the two cities and onward. The route will complement the existing services between Canada and Europe with the airline’s joint venture partners Delta Air Lines, Air France and KLM. The Toronto market will provide optimal connectivity for Canadians travelling to India, including double daily flights to Mumbai (BOM) and Delhi (DEL), with average connectivity via London Heathrow at 1 hour 20 minutes.
The airline will provide onward connections via its services to Bengaluru (BLR), Lagos (LOS), Johannesburg (JNB), and Tel Aviv (TLV). Codeshare partnerships with EL AL and Middle East Airlines will present expanded options for customers travelling to Tel Aviv (TLV) and Beirut (BEY). For those customers travelling into London, Heathrow is just a 15-minute train journey from the city centre, perfect for arriving into the city on time for business meetings or for leisure travellers visiting attractions such as Buckingham Palace and the Tower of London.
To further bolster connectivity and build on existing networks between Canada, the UK and Europe, Virgin Atlantic is announcing its partnership expansion with Canadian carrier WestJet, which is slated to launch in October this year. The partnership with WestJet will allow Canadian customers to travel seamlessly throughout the region including flights from Ottawa (YOW) and Winnipeg (YWG). Earn and redemption benefits for both airlines’ frequent flyers are expected to follow in 2025.
As well as flying customers, Virgin Atlantic will offer 20 tonnes of cargo capacity on each flight. This fast cargo service will offer new opportunities for companies looking to export and import goods such as high-tech products and e-commerce between prime markets in the UK and Canada.
Juha Jarvinen, Chief Commercial Officer at Virgin Atlantic commented, “We are incredibly excited to be back in Canada and to launch this new service between Toronto and London. With an impressive film, sports, food, and entertainment scene, we know Canadians will enjoy travelling with us to London, a city that also celebrates arts and culture and encourages exploration.
“Our expansion into The Great White North will complement our services from our US heartland to the UK. We know our customers and our people will enjoy all Toronto has to offer, from seamless connectivity onwards across the beautiful region to hockey and film festivals in the city, the city is a lively destination for business and leisure travellers alike,” added Jarvinen.
Khalil Lamrabet, Chief Commercial Officer and interim Chief Operating Officer, Greater Toronto Airports Authority commented, “Demand for travel between Toronto and London is strong. In 2023, more than a million passengers flew between the two international cities, making the route our largest long haul international market. We are excited to welcome Virgin Atlantic to Toronto Pearson. This is a big win not only in terms of capacity, but also choice. Virgin Atlantic’s brand experience and onboard product will be an excellent option for our guests flying from, to and beyond London.”
