Ctrip Lists Virgin Galactic Tickets at 5.1 Million RMB, Deposits Non-Refundable
Bastillepost · 1 SOURCESabout 5 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
China's leading online travel platform Ctrip has launched sales of Virgin Galactic space travel packages priced at 5.1 million RMB (approximately 5.6 million HKD), representing the most expensive space tourism offering currently accessible through mainland China's public channels. The six-day journey departs from Las Cruces, New Mexico, with the full experience scheduled for day five after four days of pre-flight training. A non-refundable deposit of 150,000 USD is required at booking.
Key Points
- Ctrip listed Virgin Galactic tickets at 5.1 million RMB; the page initially showed 681 units sold, later corrected to show only 2 confirmed bookings through the platform
- The six-day itinerary originates from Las Cruces, New Mexico, with days one through four dedicated to spaceflight training before launch on day five
- A 150,000 USD deposit (approximately 1.18 million HKD) is mandatory, with no refund offered if travelers cancel their booking
- Virgin Galactic's VSS Unity spacecraft completed its final commercial flight in June 2024 and has since been retired; the company is developing Delta-class replacements
- Commercial flights have been delayed from late 2026 to February 2027, with a second Delta ship expected in March 2027
- Virgin Galactic sold a batch of tickets at 750,000 USD each starting in March 2026, exceeding its target of 50 bookings with total reservations surpassing 50 million USD
Why It Matters
This listing signals growing commercial ties between Chinese consumers and Western space tourism operators, with Ctrip positioning itself as the gateway for affluent mainland Chinese to access suborbital flights. The non-refundable deposit structure and extended timeline highlight the high-risk, high-reward nature of early space tourism, while Virgin Galactic's fleet transition raises questions about delivery reliability for customers committing substantial sums .
This listing signals growing commercial ties between Chinese consumers and Western space tourism operators, with Ctrip positioning itself as the gateway for affluent mainland Chinese to access suborbital flights. The non-refundable deposit structure and extended timeline highlight the high-risk, high-reward nature of early space tourism, while Virgin Galactic's fleet transition raises questions about delivery reliability for customers committing substantial sums .