Virgin Atlantic is to increase it services from Heathrow to Hong Kong from 28 October. A second flight, operated using an A340-600, will initially operate three times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. From 4 December, the second flight will operate daily. The flight will leave London at 1600, arriving in Hong Kong at 1230 the following afternoon; the corresponding return will leave Hong Kong at 1415, arriving in Heathrow at 1920 the same day.

Steve Ridgway, Virgin Atlantic's chief executive, said: "East is the new West and 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. Virgin Atlantic, which is highly committed to the city and the Pearl River Delta, has flown well over 2 million passengers on this route since we started flying in 1994 and it remains one of our most popular services. We offer a big thank you to the Hong Kong Airport authorities for helping to make this extra service a reality."