Virgin Atlantic scraps flight route only a year after its launch

Virgin Atlantic has announced that it is scrapping its London flight to Riyadh only a year after the launch of the new route.

The airline told customers that it has “taken the difficult decision to end our service to Riyadh from 7 April”.

It added that it will continue to offer flights to Saudi Arabia through its codeshare and SkyTeam partner, Saudia, which allows Virgin to sell seats on flights operated by the other airline.

Virgin explained that due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, Virgin Atlantic has changed its flight schedule “based on the latest intelligence, regulatory guidance, demand, and operating costs”.

As a result, the airline has cancelled its London Heathrow route to Saudi Arabia’s capital, which only launched last spring, as well as its Manchester to Jeddah flight.

The UK’s Foreign Office currently advises against all but essential travel to parts of Saudi Arabia, including Riyadh.

Dave Geer, the chief commercial officer of Virgin Atlantic, said: “We have loved flying to Riyadh and are very sorry for the disappointment this change will cause. We know this route has been important to many of our customers, and we’re truly grateful for their support.

“As we look ahead to the summer season, we know many customers are actively planning their travel. We’re pleased to be offering increased flying to our three largest markets - the USA, Caribbean and India - to help meet this demand.

“Customers booked to travel to Riyadh will be contacted with their options, including rebooking onto an alternative carrier or receiving a refund. We remain committed to the region and will continue to offer connectivity to Saudi Arabia through our partnership with Saudia.”

The airline also confirmed that its service to Dubai, which operates seasonally between October and March, has been suspended until the end of the Winter 2025 season (28 March).

Virgin is currently planning to return to Dubai for the Winter 2026 season, subject to safety assessment and provided there is sufficient demand.

Read more: The latest on flight cancellations to and from the Middle East as Iran war rages