Virgin Galactic Tickets Back On Sale – For Twice As Much As Previous Price

If you’ve been impatiently waiting to get your name on the list for a flight to space, Virgin Galactic ($SPCE) is here to oblige – but it’s going to cost you.

Today, the space tourism company reopened reservations for the first time since 2018. Since closing reservations, the company reports they have received over 8,000 applications of interest, but it’s uncertain how many of those people will convert to paying customers – given that tickets will now be on sale for $450,000 rather than the $200,000-$250,000 that tickets were previously sold for.

This puts their price much more closely aligned with expected public pricing for tickets aboard their competitor, Blue Origin, the Jeff Bezos-founded space company.

“At Virgin Galactic, we believe that space is transformational,” said Virgin Galactic CEO Michael Colglazier. “We plan to have our first 1,000 customers on board at the start of commercial service later this year, providing an incredibly strong foundation as we begin regular operations and scale our fleet.”

This is an ambitious timeline, given that the company has not flown once since their first passenger flight in July 2021, which company founder Sir Richard Branson was aboard. However, it’s certainly possible if FAA clearance and good weather work in their favor. Virgin Galactic currently claims to have around 600 customer reservations that need to be fulfilled before new customers can fly.

For those not familiar, the spaceflight itself launches from Spaceport America in New Mexico. After several days of “spaceflight preparedness activities,” customers will experience a 90-minute journey that includes several minutes of weightlessness and stunning views of Earth from the spacecraft’s many windows. They then glide back to earth, landing at Spaceport America where guests and VG crew await.

In addition to re-opening reservations, Virgin Galactic has also revealed a new consumer brand, “designed to capture the love, wonder and awe of viewing Earth from space.” This rebranding shifts the company’s icon and colors from a cool blue to warmer tones – and feels very at home within the larger Virgin Brands family.

“A global, commercial spaceline demands an iconic and timeless brand,” said Blair Rich, President and Chief Business Officer, Commercial and Consumer Operations. “ It is important that our brand represents our dynamic customer offering, and speaks to our unique experience, style and service.”

 If you’re ready to take the leap, reservations can be made on the Virgin Galactic website for an initial deposit of $150,000; the rest is payable before your flight. Don’t delay though – the company says this is a “limited opportunity” and it’s difficult to know how much tickets will cost during the next offering. The company’s stock jumped 32% yesterday in advance of this news, but fell slightly during after-hours trading.