"Canada, we’ve missed you!” Sir Richard Branson launches Virgin Atlantic at YYZ

This story was updated on Friday, April 4 at 9:55 a.m. EST.

Virgin Atlantic’s new non-stop service between London Heathrow and Toronto Pearson launched earlier this week, but it felt “official” on Thursday (April 3) when the airline’s famous founder and president made a local appearance. 

The one and only Sir Richard Branson participated in a ceremonial flight arrival and press conference at YYZ’s Terminal 1 yesterday to promote his airline’s return to Canada after more than a decade of not flying to the country (the carrier’s last appearance was in Vancouver back in 2014)

"Canada, we’ve missed you! It’s been more than a decade, but we’re back and here to do it properly,” said an upbeat Branson, founder of the Virgin Group. “I’m delighted to see Virgin Atlantic's return to Toronto, a city with so much spirit and energy. With our incredible crew, exceptional service, and a strong network of partners, we can’t wait to welcome customers onboard."

An emotional moment

Fouzia Younis, British Consul General in Toronto, was among the many officials who participated in Thursday’s flight arrival ceremony on Pearson’s tarmac with Branson.

“It was really emotional when I saw the Union Jack and Canadian flag on the Virgin aircraft as it came in today. For me, it’s another way we’ll unit our countries together,” Younis told PAX.

The U.K. has “a proud tradition of air travel,” she went on to say.

“We have a number of very good airlines and Virgin is certainly one of them. It’s an iconic U.K. brand that now connects the U.K. with many parts of the world, including Asia, Middle East and now Canada.”

What’s exciting about the new Toronto-Heathrow route is how it will serve diverse Canada, she said.

“It will enable people who might be flying onwards to other parts of the world – perhaps to India, for example – to go into London, have a little stopover, and connect with one of Virgin’s routes to other parts of the world,” she said.

Connecting the world

The airline’s first Canadian route since 2014 will connect Toronto to London, linking the two global hubs.

Operating on a Boeing 787-9, the new daily service is expected to carry over 165,000 customers annually, while also offering up to 20 tonnes of cargo capacity for high-tech goods and e-commerce.

READ MORE: "We’ve got a lot in store": Virgin Atlantic launches Toronto-London (Heathrow) route

Virgin Atlantic’s return also supports its growing transatlantic presence, building on recent expansion in India to now offer seamless one-stop connections via London Heathrow to key Indian cities including Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru, with an average transit time of just one hour and 20 minutes.

Customers can also connect to Johannesburg, Lagos, Tel Aviv, and Beirut via codeshare and interline partnerships.

In addition, the new service will also offer greater connections within Canada as part of an expanded codeshare partnership with WestJet.

The two airlines will be co-located at Toronto Pearson’s Terminal 3, allowing customers to connect through Toronto to 13 destinations across Canada, including Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, Winnipeg, and Ottawa with loyalty programme benefits across Virgin Atlantic Flying Club and WestJet Rewards expected to launch later this year.

The launch also strengthens Virgin Atlantic’s Joint Venture with Delta Air Lines and Air France-KLM, who together operate over 100 flights per week between Europe and seven Canadian gateways, reinforcing transatlantic choice and flexibility for customers.

“We’re absolutely thrilled to be back in Canada. We’ve long wanted to return – and this time, we’re here to stay. Toronto is not only a thriving financial hub, but also a gateway to one of the most vibrant and diverse countries in the world. With our strong transatlantic focus, expanded connectivity to India, and exciting new partnership with WestJet, the timing couldn’t be better,” said Juha Jarvinen, chief commercial officer of Virgin Atlantic, participating in a panel with Branson.

What’s one change Canadians may notice about Virgin Atlantic compared to ten years ago?

A redesigned network, for one. “We used to be very point to point,” said Jarvinen. “But during the pandemic, we built a proper network through Heathrow. That’s really changed.”

So has the number of destinations and frequencies. Virgin Atlantic, for example, operates five daily flights to India out of Heathrow. It also now serves Riyadh.

“What has not changed is our customer service and focus on our guests,” said Jarvinen. “We value our passengers with our hearts and that is what make us different from other airlines.”

Branson also noted all the new entities and partnerships that Virgin has formed over the years through Virgin Red, the company’s rewards club.

Customers who fly with WestJet, or Virgin, are set to benefit from the program’s many offerings, he said. 

John Weatherill, executive vice-president and chief commercial officer at WestJet, said the airline is “proud” to welcome Virgin Atlantic back.

“Through our expanded partnership, together we are able to deliver unmatched value and convenience to our guests,” he said. “With our co-location at Toronto-Pearson Terminal 3 our guests can enjoy a smooth journey on one ticket with through baggage check-in across both of our networks, connecting all of Canada with Virgin Atlantic’s global network to London and beyond.”

Branson was asked about the impact U.S. tariffs may have on Virgin’s companies.

Branson’s PR team advised him not to go there, so few words were said. He did, however, speak about Canada and Britain’s close relationship, saying that it’s his hope that it can become even closer.

“There's huge demand”

Speaking with PAX, an excited Stephen Goulding, Virgin Atlantic’s country manager for Canada, said having Sir Richard Branson participate in this week’s launch “re-establishes and validates what we're trying to do here.”

On why Virgin Atlantic chose Toronto for its re-launch, Goulding stated “the obvious” reason, and that’s demand.

“This is the second-largest destination to London, outside of JFK,” he said. “There's huge demand here, from corporate, to leisure to VFR.”

Unlike ten years ago, there’s also an opportunity to work with Virgin Atlantic’s joint-ventures.

“We now have reach,” he said.

Virgin Atlantic and WestJet’s expanded codeshare establishes connections from Canada to the United Kingdom and beyond.

The first phase of the agreement will allow Canadians booking through Virgin Atlantic to seamlessly connect from their preferred city on a WestJet flight via Toronto Pearson onwards to London with Virgin Atlantic on one ticket.

“This time is different for us because Toronto can connect the world,” Goulding said. “It's a different makeup and that's why we're really focused on building the capacity here.”

Virgin Atlantic is also building out its corporate and travel agency programs, Goulding said.  

The “education component” of getting out there, and putting resources into the hands of travel advisors, is next, he said.

“We need you”

PAX took a moment to ask Virgin Atlantic’s leadership if they had a message for Canada’s travel trade community as their aircraft takes flight.  

“We have plenty of choice, we’d love to hear your feedback…we love the travel trade and we are committed to them,” Jarvinen said.

Branson echoed that sentiment.

“Whether its Virgin Voyages, Virgin Atlantic or Virgin Hotels, we work very closely with the travel trade,” Branson said. “We’ll continue to do so. We need you, and you need us.”  

Virgin Atlantic fast facts

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