Virgin Galactic Resumes Space Tourism Flights at $750K Per Ticket

New Delta-class spacecraft promises more seats and more flights, but at a steeper cost than before.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 10:07pm

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Nearly two years since Virgin Galactic's last space flight, the company will once again take regular citizens up into space -- regular citizens who have an extra $750,000, that is. Virgin Galactic will begin accepting online reservations on Monday for flights aboard its new Delta Class craft, which can hold six passengers (up from four) and can fly twice per week. The company plans to test the new ship this summer and begin commercial trips in the fall, with the first nonresearch passengers potentially flying into space before the end of the year.

Why it matters

The space tourism market is forecast to grow from $2.3 billion in 2026 to $47 billion by 2034, an annual increase of 45%, as more companies enter the industry and offer experiences beyond Earth's atmosphere. Virgin Galactic's return to space flights, with a higher price tag but more capacity, signals the continued demand and investment in this emerging market.

The details

Virgin Galactic will sell 50 tickets at $750,000 each, then pause sales after all are sold. The company will "step our pricing up as we go" when sales resume, according to CEO Michael Colglazier. The new Delta Class craft can hold six passengers, up from four in the previous VSS Unity craft, and can fly twice per week. Virgin Galactic plans to test the new ship this summer and begin commercial trips in the fall, with the first nonresearch passengers potentially flying into space before the end of the year.

  • Virgin Galactic will begin accepting online reservations on Monday, April 1, 2026.
  • The company plans to test the new Delta Class spacecraft this summer.
  • Virgin Galactic will begin commercial trips with the Delta Class in the fall of 2026.
  • The first nonresearch passengers could be flying into space before the end of 2026.

The players

Virgin Galactic

An American aerospace company founded by Sir Richard Branson, focused on commercial spaceflight.

Michael Colglazier

The CEO of Virgin Galactic.

Ron Rosano

A customer from San Rafael, California who fulfilled a lifelong dream with a Virgin Galactic trip in 2023.

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What they’re saying

“the view of this incredible, miraculous planet floating suspended in the empty black vastness of space, seeing the shockingly thin blue line of our atmosphere on the edge of the planet. Sadly, the idea that we humans are suspended in gravity orbiting the sun on a spaceship, a spaceship Earth, does not sit very much at all in our consciousness.”

— Ron Rosano, Virgin Galactic customer

What’s next

Virgin Galactic plans to test the new Delta Class spacecraft this summer and begin commercial trips in the fall of 2026, with the first nonresearch passengers potentially flying into space before the end of the year.

The takeaway

The return of Virgin Galactic to the space tourism market, with a higher price tag but more capacity, signals the continued growth and investment in this emerging industry. As more companies enter the market, the opportunity for regular citizens to experience space travel is expanding, though at a steep cost.