Virgin Atlantic invests billions in fleet, cabin and service upgrades – Onboard Hospitality
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Published: 17 July 2025
[Onboard Hospitality]: Virgin Atlantic will introduce several enhancements as part of a $17 billion (£12.5 billion) fleet transformation, including new cabins and streaming-quality Wi-Fi.
In response to growing demand, more premium seats will be made available.
It will be the first UK airline to introduce free, streaming-quality Wi-Fi across its fleet with unlimited use by passengers signed up to its Flying Club loyalty scheme. Using Starlink technology, the rollout will begin in the third quarter of 2026 and be completed by the end of 2027.
The objective is to create a ‘home away from home’ Wi-Fi experience, allowing passengers to be connected from the moment they board a Virgin aircraft.
From the third quarter of 2026, 10 A330neo aircraft will join the fleet with larger premium cabins. The aircraft will have six Retreat Suites – four more than at present. They will also have 48 Upper Class and 56 Premium seats, compared to the 32 and 46 now available. The number of Economy seats will drop from 184 to 128.
The Retreat Suite is a private space made for sharing by up to four people. With a 6ft 7-inch seat that converts into a flat bed, it has an ottoman that doubles as an extra seat. The suite has a 27-inch touchscreen and offers Bluetooth connectivity and wireless charging.
The airline’s Boeing 787-9 fleet will undergo complete cabin refurbishment from 2028 to 2030. Inspired by A330neo interiors, new seating will be available in all three cabins.
The Upper Class and Premium cabins will increase in size, offering 44 and 56 seats respectively (up from 31 and 35). Eight Retreat Suites will be introduced to the 787-9 in every Upper Class cabin. Meanwhile, the Economy cabin will be reduced from 192 to 127 seats.
This story was originally published by Onboard Hospitality. To read the full story, go here: https://www.onboardhospitality.com/virgin-atlantic-to-enhance-its-fleet/