Virgin Galactic announced on 13 August that delays in avionics and systems installation will postpone the resumption of commercial suborbital flights from later this year to February 2027.
The next‑generation Delta‑class vehicles are designed for greater payload capacity and a cadence of up to three flights per week from Spaceport America in New Mexico.
After the first Delta spacecraft completed a full electrical systems test at the Mesa, Arizona assembly facility, the company said the ferry to Spaceport America will now occur in October instead of August.
Shares fell about 15% in early trading following the announcement, reflecting investor concern over the revised timeline.
The second Delta spacecraft is expected to arrive in March 2027 and enter commercial service immediately, while the last revenue‑generating flight of the Unity fleet took place in June 2024.
