AIRLINE NEWS
Friday, September 19, 2008
Virgin Atlantic says would bid for London's Gatwick
Virgin Atlantic said on Wednesday it would bid for Gatwick Airport as part of a consortium.
"Virgin Atlantic would relish the opportunity to bid for Gatwick as part of a consortium and inject our customer service expertise into any future running of the airport," Chief Executive Steve Ridgway said in a statement.
BAA, owned by Spain's Ferrovial, said earlier on Wednesday it would put London's Gatwick up for sale, with the process beginning immediately.
Source: reuters.com
"Virgin Atlantic would relish the opportunity to bid for Gatwick as part of a consortium and inject our customer service expertise into any future running of the airport," Chief Executive Steve Ridgway said in a statement.
BAA, owned by Spain's Ferrovial, said earlier on Wednesday it would put London's Gatwick up for sale, with the process beginning immediately.
Source: reuters.com
Labels: BAA, Gatwick, Virgin Atlantic
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Virgin says sales are up thanks to T5 troubles
Virgin Atlantic claimed yesterday it was still boosting sales in the aftermath of the troubled Terminal 5 opening, with passenger numbers rising 6% last month.
The airline will announce today that it is hiring 100 extra cabin crew as it adds an extra flight to its daily London to Hong Kong service.
Virgin Atlantic said it was seeing strong sales on services to the Caribbean and the US despite a downturn in consumer confidence and rising fuel surcharges, driven by the high oil price.
"We have definitely taken market share post-T5," said Paul Charles, Virgin Atlantic's director of communications. "There is still massive demand to fly long haul to countries where the pound is strong and the dollar is weak, such as the Caribbean and the US."
British Airways, the only tenant at T5, reported a 0.7% drop in traffic last month.
However, it said its most profitable customers were still flying in large numbers, with premium sales on long-haul routes ahead of the same period last year.
Virgin Atlantic said premium sales in May were up 10% for the second successive month.
Analysts believe the airline founded by Sir Richard Branson is in a weaker financial position than its close rival as high fuel costs threaten profits across the industry.
BA achieved a profit margin of 10% last year and record pre-tax profits of £883m. Virgin Atlantic has yet to publish its results for the 2007-08 financial year.
The carrier is expected to avoid a loss despite achieving a profit of just £6.6m in the year to February 2007, when the airline market was approaching its peak.
BA and Ryanair have admitted recently that they will struggle to make a profit in the financial year as a result of a combination of high fuel costs and weakening demand. Both hope to capitalise on the collapse of weaker rivals, with the global industry expected to make a collective loss of $6bn (£3bn) if the oil price stays at record levels.
The future of another BA rival, Silverjet, was still in the balance last night as its administrators held rescue talks with three parties.
The business class carrier's administrator, Begbies Traynor, confirmed that an investment vehicle managed by Swiss management company Heritage had tabled an offer to buy and relaunch the airline.
Heritage is working with Lawrence Hunt, Silverjet's founder and chief executive, who has blamed the grounding of his airline on negative comments from financial analysts rather than the crippling surge in fuel costs.
Source: guardian.co.uk
The airline will announce today that it is hiring 100 extra cabin crew as it adds an extra flight to its daily London to Hong Kong service.
Virgin Atlantic said it was seeing strong sales on services to the Caribbean and the US despite a downturn in consumer confidence and rising fuel surcharges, driven by the high oil price.
"We have definitely taken market share post-T5," said Paul Charles, Virgin Atlantic's director of communications. "There is still massive demand to fly long haul to countries where the pound is strong and the dollar is weak, such as the Caribbean and the US."
British Airways, the only tenant at T5, reported a 0.7% drop in traffic last month.
However, it said its most profitable customers were still flying in large numbers, with premium sales on long-haul routes ahead of the same period last year.
Virgin Atlantic said premium sales in May were up 10% for the second successive month.
Analysts believe the airline founded by Sir Richard Branson is in a weaker financial position than its close rival as high fuel costs threaten profits across the industry.
BA achieved a profit margin of 10% last year and record pre-tax profits of £883m. Virgin Atlantic has yet to publish its results for the 2007-08 financial year.
The carrier is expected to avoid a loss despite achieving a profit of just £6.6m in the year to February 2007, when the airline market was approaching its peak.
BA and Ryanair have admitted recently that they will struggle to make a profit in the financial year as a result of a combination of high fuel costs and weakening demand. Both hope to capitalise on the collapse of weaker rivals, with the global industry expected to make a collective loss of $6bn (£3bn) if the oil price stays at record levels.
The future of another BA rival, Silverjet, was still in the balance last night as its administrators held rescue talks with three parties.
The business class carrier's administrator, Begbies Traynor, confirmed that an investment vehicle managed by Swiss management company Heritage had tabled an offer to buy and relaunch the airline.
Heritage is working with Lawrence Hunt, Silverjet's founder and chief executive, who has blamed the grounding of his airline on negative comments from financial analysts rather than the crippling surge in fuel costs.
Source: guardian.co.uk
Labels: Heathrow, Virgin Atlantic
Monday, March 03, 2008
BA and Virgin to pay out refunds
People who flew long-haul with British Airways or Virgin Atlantic between 11 August 2004 and 23 March 2006 will be eligible for a refund.
news.bbc.co.uk
news.bbc.co.uk
Labels: British Airways, fuel, Virgin Atlantic
Monday, August 27, 2007
Virgin Atlantic to add more destinations in India
Virgin Atlantic Airways plans to add new destinations within the country in the next 18 months besides consolidating its position in Mumbai, a senior company official said.
economictimes.indiatimes.com
economictimes.indiatimes.com
Labels: mumbai, Virgin Atlantic
Friday, August 17, 2007
Virgin and bmi to join forces with US airlines
Virgin Atlantic and bmi, the British airlines, are seeking permission to form partnerships with American carriers on transatlantic flights as part of a strategy to take on British Airways.
business.timesonline.co.uk
business.timesonline.co.uk
Labels: BMI, Virgin Atlantic
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Branson doesn't rule out floating Virgin Atlantic
British billionaire Richard Branson declined to rule out a stock market listing for Virgin Atlantic in the event that his Virgin Group bought out its Singapore partner in the airline.
reuters.com
reuters.com
Labels: richard branson, Singapore Airlines, Virgin Atlantic
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Branson eyes Virgin buyback
British billionaire Richard Branson says there is a "possibility" he will buy back a 49 per cent stake in Virgin Atlantic Airways from Singapore Airlines.
theage.com.au
theage.com.au
Labels: richard branson, Singapore Airlines, Virgin Atlantic
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Singapore Airlines mulls Virgin sale
Singapore Airlines is reviewing ownership of its 49 per cent stake in Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Atlantic amid a sell-down of assets considered non-strategic to the airline.
theage.com.au
theage.com.au
Labels: richard branson, Singapore Airlines, Virgin Atlantic
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Boeing boost as Virgin opts for Dreamliner
Virgin Atlantic and Air Canada have confirmed orders for Boeings new carbon-composite 787 Dreamliner, an important victory for Boeing over its European rival Airbus.
theage.com.au
theage.com.au
Labels: Boeing, Dreamliner, Virgin Atlantic
Sunday, March 04, 2007
BA and Virgin knock open sky deal
British Airways and Virgin Atlantic have criticised the European Union's 'open skies' deal with the US amid concerns that the deal will favour US carriers.
bbc.co.uk
bbc.co.uk
Labels: British Airways, EU, open skies deal, Virgin Atlantic
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