Given how small Virgin Atlantic’s fleet is, the airline has announced quite a few new destinations lately, ranging from Accra, to Riyadh, to Toronto. The airline has now revealed plans to add flights to yet another destination.
In this post:
Virgin Atlantic adds London to Cancun flight
As of October 19, 2025, Virgin Atlantic will launch a new seasonal, 3x weekly flight between London Heathrow (LHR) and Cancun (CUN). The service will operate with the following schedule on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays:
VS93 London to Cancun departing 10:10AM arriving 4:15PM
VS93 Cancun to London departing 6:45PM arriving 9:05AM (+1 day)
The 4,948-mile flight will be blocked at 11hr5min westbound and 9hr20min eastbound. Virgin Atlantic will use one of its leisure configured Airbus A350-1000s for the route, featuring 396 seats. This includes 16 business class seats, 56 premium economy seats, and 325 economy seats. The new flight is expected to go on sale as of December 4, 2024.
This will be the only nonstop flight between London Heathrow and Cancun, though British Airways and TUI Airways operate a service between London Gatwick and Cancun. This will mark Virgin Atlantic’s return to Mexico. Here’s what Virgin Atlantic Chief Commercial Officer Juha Jarvinen had to say about this addition:
“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.”
Vacation packages are also available for this service through Virgin Atlantic Holidays, with stays for seven nights, with prices starting at £1,799 per person.
This seems like a safe route addition
I love flying with Virgin Atlantic, but the airline no doubt has a challenging business model. It exclusively operates long haul flights and competes with British Airways in virtually all markets, which is a tough position to be in, given the feed that British Airways has.
Virgin Atlantic is 49% owned by Delta, so the carrier’s biggest focus has long been on the transatlantic joint venture with Delta and Air France-KLM. So while most of Virgin Atlantic’s network is between London and the United States, the airline has kind of struggled with figuring out what markets to pursue otherwise.
In that sense, flying to Cancun a few times per week in winter with a high density A350 seems pretty low risk. Yields don’t have to be high, and we know Brits are sun starved in winter, so filling the jet shouldn’t be an issue. I’m curious if the route comes back for a second season, or if Virgin Atlantic finds somewhere better to send the aircraft.
Bottom line
As of October 2025, Virgin Atlantic will launch a 3x weekly, seasonal flight, between London and Cancun with an Airbus A350. This marks the carrier’s return to Mexico, and it seems like a safe bet. Outside of flights between London and the United States, Virgin Atlantic has been struggling with what routes to add, so this seems like one of the more logical additions, even if it’s not terribly creative.
What do you make of Virgin Atlantic launching Cancun flights?
Cool, but can they please do any Euro short haul? I would give my left nut to avoid UK APD
You can buy VS-marketed codeshares from AMS/CDG/CPH/ARN/OSL
Hey Scott Kirby
See what airlines can do that buy widebodies from Airbus
Don’t try this on a 737
somebody was drinking last night and posting stupid things. Are you seriously now telling United that LHR-CUN is a great reason to buy an A350.
FYI. This is evidence of an airline with too many slots and too many wide bodies.
Put the phone down when you drink ;)
the only person that is drinking is you or else you are perpetually incapable of piecing together two thoughts.
Nobody said anything about UA buying 350s to fly to the Caribbean while dissing VS for flying to CUN with a widebody when BA does it to a far greater degree and UA has NO partner at LHR - so they don't fly anywhere except to the US.
Quit trying to rain on everyone's parade by...
the only person that is drinking is you or else you are perpetually incapable of piecing together two thoughts.
Nobody said anything about UA buying 350s to fly to the Caribbean while dissing VS for flying to CUN with a widebody when BA does it to a far greater degree and UA has NO partner at LHR - so they don't fly anywhere except to the US.
Quit trying to rain on everyone's parade by throwing stupid and incoherent random thoughts out in public.
Keep them to yourself or share them w/ your therapist.
None of which changes that United's international growth plan is heavily based on less than daily, seasonal flights on 737s because Boeing cannot or is not delivering the 787s which United ordered. or the 737s which United was convinced it would use to massively grow its domestic network.
UA is not retiring aircraft while DL and VS are receiving new widebodies from Airbus and retiring aircraft. and DL and VS are growing their networks with widebodies.
When you make stupid comments, you get served facts.
don't drink and post comments and this won't be an issue for you, "Tim"
lol
"Nobody said anything about UA buying 350s to fly to the Caribbean"
Did you read your stupid comment or just reply to me while hungover?
It's like you don't even read what you write when you drink. Put the Margs down, pal
You know damn well if UA put spare widebodies into New Zealand in winter he would roast that- oh wait...
they did that last year and we know how well it turned out.
They managed to lose money flying the Pacific in the 4th quarter of 2023 and 1st quarter of 2024 while DL managed to make money - despite the clear overcapacity in the TPAC market.
UA is cutting back including not flying LAX-AKL this summer on its own metal - but all the comments section is ever filled with is that DL...
they did that last year and we know how well it turned out.
They managed to lose money flying the Pacific in the 4th quarter of 2023 and 1st quarter of 2024 while DL managed to make money - despite the clear overcapacity in the TPAC market.
UA is cutting back including not flying LAX-AKL this summer on its own metal - but all the comments section is ever filled with is that DL dropped LAX-LHR even though DL has a JV partner flying the route just as UA does with LAX-AKL.
UA says it will not be aggressively growing the Pacific - something I have said for years would happen.
At the same time, DL is on the verge of aggressive growth in the Asia-Pacific region including the addition of the A350-1000s and adding that jet earlier than originally planned because VS does not want any more 35Ks but DL is ready to take on even more than from their firm order.
It is precisely because of the cherrypicking of facts and data that people like you and others AND Ben do that I have reason to keep posting.
you and others turn the comments section into a failing attempt to distort and it all backfires when you are faced with real facts and data.
LAX-LHR is the biggest corporate market out of LA. It actually means something when Delta can't compete in the market, "Tim"
you cherrypick while still trying to argue that "it is ok for UA to not fly a market because it has a JV"
You are a hypocrite that even other people see you to be nothing but a negative Nancy that can't even string together a coherent thought.
You do realize that UA doesn't even fly to JFK but you somehow manage to excuse that?
Virgin Atlantic sends spare widebodies to Cancun - No problem.
United sends spare widebodies in Australia and New Zealand- Huge problem!
The DOT doesn't publish VS' profitability by global region but it does for UA.
UA lost all kinds of money trying to horn in on the LAX to S. Pacific market and lost an enormous amount of money while DL managed to make money flying the Pacific.
VS isn't a terribly profitable company while UA says it wants to be as profitable as DL.
The standard IS different by UA's own design.
Yet another example of how weak DL and VS are in London. Delta can't make LA-Heathrow work (twice now) and VS is forced to utilize Heathrow slots to Cancun during the winter while BA can run it from Gatwick easily.
Hopefully the number of visitors to the US will fall dramatically with the fascist government being formed.
unusual takeaway...
How convenient that you forget that AA and UA have dropped London flights.
United’s partner Jules what routes from LHR to the Caribbean? Thought so
lol. How are you so stupid? why would United fly to the Caribbean from Heathrow? lol
And they don't have a Heathrow partner that use their slots
BA flies to 2 (that's right, 2) spots in the Caribbean from LHR, both more business markets vs beach. Their beach business is from Gatwick. Nice try though, loser.
But... I have to admit, you do eagerly jump on every lure given to you ;) There isn't even a need to put bait on it... How is anyone this big of a loser?
Of course, all of BA’s flights to the Caribbean are because they can’t find anything better to do with them to the US.
The problem is overcapacity between the US and LHR; every carrier has pulled some flights or reduced capacity.
The high capacity VS 35Ks are too much for all but a few markets. CUN a few days a week are probably one of them esp. since they will have the only CUN flights from LHR
Tim, I agree with this post overall but I do have a hard time understanding why SFO doesn't get an A350 when BA is operating A380s and 777s on the same route.
The bar is very popular on ex LhR daytime departures not so on the red eyes.
SFO does get A350s and A330neos, it's just that VS is constantly plane swapping and cycling their schedules so it's never consistent.
The A350 and neos have a strictly better product than the 787s, and it creates a ton of inconsistency and disappointed customers when VS keeps switching it up.
VS' dated 787 and A330ceo products hold it back tremendously.
Wow, for all my FlightRadar24 snooping I had no idea VS used the A350 at times. I agree that a last minute 350 to 787 swap would be brutal, almost as bad as thinking you've landed a Club Suite only to find yourself facing backwards with someone climbing over your legs.
Product consistency is certainly a big issue on these West Coast to LHR flights. I have been tempted to fly Delta A330-900 from SEA to LHR but... *cough* SkyMiles redemptions...
Virgin also uses its high capacity. 350s to India.
They do not use their 330 CEOs to the West Coast
I suspect if they were to make a decision today, they would not have the high capacity 350s. In fact, since Delta appears to be taking over Virgin’s last two 350 orders, it appears virgin has enough 350s regardless of configuration.
They are taking delivery of new 330 NEOs at a pretty good clip so the 330 CEOs might not last long.
SEA to LHR is actually one of the few routes that Delta released partner availability to over the past year. There were quite a few dates just a month ago across January to March. So there's hope they might release more in 2024.
Delta's A330neo product is definitely superior.
If you’re facing backwards then you’re the one doing the climbing! ;-)
"VS' dated 787 and A330ceo products hold it back tremendously."
By what measure, other than your presumption?
By the fact it's not profitable.
Like ALL of AA’s transatlantic network. By fact. Not internet myth
Actually, Virgin's leisure-configured A350s are meant to fly to specific destinations. VS has 4 of them in their fleet (out of 12 A35Ks), and they were intended to replace VS's fleet of 8 leisure configured 747-400s which were based at Gatwick and retired during the pandemic. Their leisure A350s fly mostly to Orlando and the Carribbean, and VS does well with filling the seats on those high capacity aircraft. In fact, a majority of their...
Actually, Virgin's leisure-configured A350s are meant to fly to specific destinations. VS has 4 of them in their fleet (out of 12 A35Ks), and they were intended to replace VS's fleet of 8 leisure configured 747-400s which were based at Gatwick and retired during the pandemic. Their leisure A350s fly mostly to Orlando and the Carribbean, and VS does well with filling the seats on those high capacity aircraft. In fact, a majority of their leisure A350 fleet flies to Orlando on a daily basis (anywhere from 2-4 frames are used per day to MCO).
I believe the reason VS is launching flights to Cancun is because Delta is launching winter seasonal flights between Orlando and London, which start in October and runs until March. That will likely take over one of VS's frequencies, allowing them to redeploy an A350 airframe to the Cancun route.
seems to be a DL/VS problem largely
YOU are the problem
lol. How much did you drink last night? lol. Your posts are so idiotic and stupid. I really don't know how someone that posts as much as you do can be so dumb on the topic but I guess the village idiot just never stops talking.
of course, you now turn to the "shoot and denigrate the messenger" strategy because YOU and YOU ALONE have been shown to be the one that comes up with the most bizarre and incoherent conclusions.
Village idiot? Quit looking in the mirror while you post on the internet.
No wonder you hide behind some anonymous user name.
Plane Jane, at least TD’s posts have some content to them. Yours are just ad hominem attacks.
big word for you, redacted
"No wonder you hide behind some anonymous user name."
right, because Tim Dunn is your real name. What an idiot
again, quit looking in the mirror when you post
And still they send their godforsaken 787 products all up into the US. The dynamic pricing brings it as low as 92k RT + $500 in fees, but the fact that it would be those awful coffins makes it a no-go for me.
The fees make Virgin and BA a non-starter for me. Why book reward travel through the UK when it's so much cheaper with most other countries?
Yoloswag420, you do realize that not everyone passionately hates the coffins as much as you right? For Westbound flights in particular, who honestly cares if you're saving significant $$$? If the choice is between 45k-50k points for 787 to SEA/SFO/LAS (in the left row, naturally) vs 80-112k points on a 350 to LAX (not to mention the big tax differential), sorry but I'm taking the 787. I tend to hang out at the bar and...
Yoloswag420, you do realize that not everyone passionately hates the coffins as much as you right? For Westbound flights in particular, who honestly cares if you're saving significant $$$? If the choice is between 45k-50k points for 787 to SEA/SFO/LAS (in the left row, naturally) vs 80-112k points on a 350 to LAX (not to mention the big tax differential), sorry but I'm taking the 787. I tend to hang out at the bar and stretch my legs more often that I visit the "social space" on the 350 anyway (although admittedly, one annoyingly loud couple at the bar can ruin it for everyone... so that's a weak argument).
And as for @Matt, things have *significantly* changed now. I just booked Upper Class to LHR for a little over $240 in tax/fees. That's a significant drop vs the $800 just a couple weeks ago. And if I was on the East Coast those fees would be even better.
Sure not everyone does. Just the majority of people.
If people loved it so much, then airlines would use that seat. Instead, basically every airline has gotten ridden of it because it's explicitly a pain point for most customers.
People don't want to pay for a subpar product. It's an average seat at best for people that can tolerate it and it's inferior to almost any other modern seat.
Right but those two things don't have to be mutually exclusive. In other words, you can agree that the coffin is a stupid outdated design that is in desperate need of a refresh and is *clearly inferior* to the competition (my personal view, seemingly similar to yours... but still book it occasionally if it's saving a considerable amount of money and/or is more convenient.
After all, we're not talking about saving 10k points and $150......
Right but those two things don't have to be mutually exclusive. In other words, you can agree that the coffin is a stupid outdated design that is in desperate need of a refresh and is *clearly inferior* to the competition (my personal view, seemingly similar to yours... but still book it occasionally if it's saving a considerable amount of money and/or is more convenient.
After all, we're not talking about saving 10k points and $150... in some cases the differential could almost cover the price of another one-way flight in Upper Class.
I'm a consumer that will not pay for a product that doesn't meet my expectations. I will go out of my way to book better hard product, either at higher cost or slightly less convenient routing.
It's a personal choice, but certainly not a unique one or even unpopular one. If you don't mind it, then that's good on you, it's not something I'll be doing though.
I agree on the ridiculous fees but BA especially makes up for it with award availability! IAG Loyalty grew almost 40% in the last 3 years compared to only a 10% growth for Delta, 7% for Lufthansa and 4% for Air France. That says something about the users.
Seriously?
Delta has the world’s largest mileage program by value of the program.
And American and United own even 1% of what London based airlines?
Yep. None. Is the right answer
With this 3-times weekly route on the most fuel efficient aircraft of all times, this will secure VA’s dominance between Mexico and London.
stick to your knitting, old lady.
It's VS
Cancun? Nobody goes there anymore. It's too crowded.
Just under 500k from the UK in 2023, but I agree it’s not a destination I would return too but VS Holidays will do very well for sure.
If it's too crowded clearly people are still going...
Whoosh guys, whoosh!
“Nobody drives in New York. There’s too much traffic!”
Come on, guys. Jeez.
If nobody goes there, how is it crowded?
Plus... take this with a saltshaker since I haven't lived in the UK in over 10 years and things may have changed, but historically Brits do tend to travel to relatively crowded sunny/warm popular destinations for their holidays. It used to be a stereotype (especially for Greece, Lanzarote, etc.).
Overall, good logical destination for VS.
The cheap American tourist capital of Mexico, equivalent to Benidorm in Spain.
?? How is it crowded if nobody goes there ?
"Nobody goes there anymore", immediately followed by "It's too crowded" - make your mind up?
Lucky, fyi there are lots of flights from London to CUN with TUI