Advertisement

Virgin Galactic solicits space tourism interest in Asia, with flights priced at US$600,000

Virgin Galactic is now discreetly soliciting interest in Asia for its space tourism flights, which will restart on new spaceships in 2026

Reading Time:4 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
The Virgin Galactic spacecraft VSS Unity (left) parks outside Spaceport America in New Mexico. The Richard Branson-founded venture is now discreetly soliciting interest in Asia for its space tourism flights, which will restart on new spaceships in 2026. Photo: Virgin Galactic

Virgin Galactic is now discreetly soliciting interest in Asia, on the lookout for people with an out-of-this-world sense of adventure matched with an astronomically large bank account for trips on its space tourism flights.

Advertisement

For anyone in Asia ready to boldly go where few have gone before, Hong Kong-based luxury travel agent Intriq Journey was recently appointed Virgin Galactic’s agent in the continent.

“But this is not like purchasing luxury goods,” explains James Willoughby, the vice-president and general manager of customer operations at Virgin Galactic. “This is about investing in yourself, to experience things that will take you further, [that] let you embrace science and technology and our planet.”

When talking about such exclusive expeditions for millionaire clientele, a very different customer lexicon is used.

“We’re not open to the public in the sense of selling tickets, since we only have a limited number of space flights,” Willoughby says. “Broadly speaking, we are taking referrals. Each referral that comes to us, we see that individual as adding to the community.”

The VSS Unity (middle) is carried by a Virgin MotherShip (VMS) Eve on its way into space. Photo: Virgin Galactic
The VSS Unity (middle) is carried by a Virgin MotherShip (VMS) Eve on its way into space. Photo: Virgin Galactic

In other words, it is not like buying a first-class seat on an airline. Think of it as investing in a debenture to join a very elite private club.

Advertisement