Virgin Galactic delays Delta spacecraft commercial flights to 2027

Virgin Galactic has announced that the first commercial flights of its new Delta-class spacecraft have been postponed to February 2027. The company had previously aimed to begin operations during the final quarter of 2026.

CEO Michael Colglazer stated that the delay is not due to a single major incident but rather the accumulation of numerous small technical issues involving avionics and onboard systems. Specifically, some components were delivered with slight dimensional discrepancies, sometimes by mere thousandths of an inch, requiring extra time to ensure they meet strict design tolerances.

The Delta-class ships are central to the company’s strategy to scale operations, with a goal of conducting three flights per week. Each flight is designed to carry six passengers and one pilot on a 90-minute suborbital journey. Additionally, the transfer of the spacecraft to its operating base in New Mexico has been delayed until October.

This announcement follows a period of financial difficulty for the company, which saw significant losses between 2020 and 2024. The shift toward the Delta fleet marks a transition away from the retired VSS Unity.