Virgin Atlantic launches Second Daily Heathrow - Hong Kong Service

Virgin Atlantic has launched a second service between London Heathrow and Hong Kong. The new flights, which will be daily from 4 December this year, will complement the airline’s existing daily programme to Hong Kong, which connects to Virgin Atlantic’s flights to Sydney.

Virgin Atlantic first launched flights between London and Hong Kong in February 1994 and has since carried over 2.3m passengers on the route. The new second daily service will double the airline’s capacity between London and Hong Kong, offering passengers more choice and flexibility when travelling to the Far East and Australia.

The new flight will be operated on an Airbus A340-600. Flight VS238 will operate three times a week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays and then operate daily from 4 December 2008. VS238 will depart London Heathrow Terminal 3 at 16.00, arriving in Hong Kong at 12.30pm the following afternoon.

Flight VS239 will operate between Hong Kong and London Heathrow on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays from today, 29 October 2008, and then operate daily from 5 December 2008. VS239 will depart Hong Kong at 14.15, arriving at London Heathrow at 19.20 the same day.

Steve Ridgway, Chief Executive of Virgin Atlantic, said, "This second daily service will offer our passengers even more opportunities via Hong Kong, which is the third busiest long-haul route out of Heathrow after New York’s JFK and Dubai. We have long dreamed of adding another service to this ever-popular route, particularly since the launch of Sydney flights in 2004, and are thrilled to see it become a reality. We would like to offer a big thank you to the Hong Kong Airport authorities for helping to make this extra service possible."

Virgin Atlantic’s existing daily service, flight VS200, leaves Heathrow daily at 21.30, arriving in Hong Kong at 17.40 the following day, before then departing Hong Kong at 19.10 and arriving in Sydney at 07.10 the following day. Flight VS201 leaves Sydney at 15.50, arriving in Hong Kong at 22.05. It then departs Hong Kong at 23.35 before arriving at London Heathrow at 04.50 the following morning.

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