Virgin Galactic reopens ticket sales with out-of-this-world price hikes

Virgin Galactic has reopened suborbital ticket sales with a price rise and a promise for commercial spaceflight operations in Q4 2026.

Tickets for a ride in Virgin Galactic's spacecraft now run to $750,000 per seat, up from the $600,000 per seat the company was charging in 2023. In August 2021, after Sir Richard Branson's test flight, the base price was $450,000.

Virgin Galactic's VSS Unity flew its final flight (or so it said) in 2024, with commercial operations on hiatus until the less costly Delta Class ships enter service. According to the company, the flight-test phase of the first new SpaceShip is scheduled for Q3 2026, followed later by commercial operations.

During an earnings call earlier this week, CEO Michael Colglazier noted that it has "approximately 650 future astronauts with tickets at various prices." However, he also said: "We will offer a limited number ...