Virgin Galactic has officially reopened ticket sales for its suborbital flights, announcing a substantial price increase. Tickets are now priced at $750,000 per seat, a rise from the previous $600,000 charged in 2023. This marks a notable increase from the initial base price of $450,000 set after Sir Richard Branson’s test flight in August 2021.
The company plans to resume commercial spaceflight operations in Q4 2026, following a hiatus after the final flight of its VSS Unity spacecraft in 2024. Virgin Galactic is currently awaiting the introduction of its new Delta Class ships, with flight tests for the first of these vehicles scheduled to begin in Q3 2026.
During a recent earnings call, CEO Michael Colglazier revealed that there are approximately 650 future astronauts who have purchased tickets at various price points. However, he indicated that a limited number of tickets would be available at the new price for the initial flights, with plans to increase prices for subsequent batches. The company aims to achieve a target of ten or more flights per month by this time next year.
Virgin Galactic intends to sell only 50 tickets at the new price of $750,000 each, highlighting the urgency for the company to generate revenue. Branson, who founded the company in 2004, originally envisioned a price of $100,000 per seat for suborbital flights.
As of December 31, 2025, Virgin Galactic reported a cash position of $338 million and a net loss of $279 million for the year, down from $347 million in 2024. These financial figures underscore the pressing need for the company to resume revenue-generating flights.
In preparation for upcoming flights, Colglazier announced that pilots will begin flying the original SpaceShip, VSS Unity, in a series of glide flights over Spaceport America starting in May. The new vehicle’s flight tests will follow, involving both glide and rocket-powered test flights before entering commercial service. Additionally, the company is utilizing its launch vehicle, Eve, for pilot proficiency training.
Colglazier noted that improvements to the aircraft are expected to support 12–15 space flights per month, with an anticipated service life extending to 2032 or beyond. The deployment of new launch vehicles is projected for 2030.
As 2026 and 2027 approach, Virgin Galactic faces critical challenges. In its 10-K filing, the company expressed concerns about its ability to remain a viable entity, a situation compounded by the need for timely revenue from space flights and the realization of forecasted demand.
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