Virgin Galactic Resumes Ticket Sales for Suborbital Flights at $750,000 per Seat

Virgin Galactic announced the resumption of ticket sales for its suborbital spaceflights on Wednesday, setting the price at $750,000 per seat. This represents an increase from the previous price of $600,000. The company paused sales nearly two years ago and now has over 675 customers awaiting flights.

The new sales include 50 available spots for future expeditions. Flight testing for the next-generation SpaceShip is expected to begin in the third quarter of 2026, with commercial operations starting in the fourth quarter of 2026. A second SpaceShip is under construction and projected to enter service between late 2026 and early 2027.

suborbital flight lasts approximately 90 minutes.

The process involves launching a spaceplane from a carrier aircraft at high altitude, followed by rocket engine ignition to reach the edge of space. Passengers experience several minutes of weightlessness before the vehicle glides back to Earth. The company aims to transition from monthly flights to a twice-weekly schedule per ship as production increases.

This development phase includes ground testing of the first next-generation SpaceShip starting in April 2026.

“We completed pivotal milestones during the first quarter of 2026, and with assembly of our first SpaceShip nearly complete and ground testing set to begin in April, we have released a limited number of Virgin Galactic Spaceflight Expeditions, each priced at $750,000.”

Galactic reported a net loss of $279 million in 2025 and negative free cash flow of $438 million. These figures reflect the costs associated with developing and scaling commercial spaceflight operations. CEO Michael Colglazier indicated that pricing may continue to rise as production and testing advance.

The company has encountered delays and technical challenges in its history. In 2014, a test flight operated by Scaled Composites, which designed and built the spaceplane, resulted in a crash that killed co-pilot Michael Alsbury. Such incidents have contributed to cautious progress in the program.

Landscape Blue Origin has suspended its tourist flights for at least two years. SpaceX is currently prioritizing satellite deployments, cargo missions, and government contracts. As a result, Virgin Galactic remains the only provider offering active suborbital tourism options.

The resumption of sales occurs amid ongoing efforts to build reusable spacecraft, which involve significant expenses for testing and safety compliance. Limited flight capacity requires premium pricing to support operations. Stakeholders, including potential customers and investors, await the outcomes of upcoming testing phases to assess the program's viability.