Branson gears up for V Australia launch
Published: 18/02/2009 - Filed under: News »
Sir Richard Branson is to embark on a global search for a lookalike this weekend, to celebrate the fact that passengers will be able to travel around the world using only Virgin carriers.
V Australia (the international arm of Australian carrier Virgin Blue, in which Virgin Atlantic is a shareholder ) will launch its Sydney to LA service on February 27, a move that will create the final link in a chain enabling passengers to fly around the world using Virgin carriers.
It’s not as pure a round-the-world product as Air New Zealand, which offers a London-Hong Kong-Auckland-Los Angeles-London routing all under the ANZ livery, but nonetheless Virgin passengers will soon be able to circumnavigate the globe using a mixture of “Virgin” airlines.
London-based travellers can begin their flight with Virgin Atlantic, flying to Sydney (via Hong Kong), where they will be able to pick up the new V Australia route to LA. From there passengers can either take a direct flight with Virgin Atlantic back to London, or fly with Virgin America to New York, before boarding a return flight with Virgin Atlantic to London.
V Australia had originally been due to launch in December, but the strike at Boeing’s Seattle factory meant delivery of its new aircraft could not be guaranteed (see online news October 5, 2008). To celebrate V Australia’s launch Sir Richard Branson is to set off on an eight-day round-the-world trip on Virgin-only airlines, in search of the best Richard lookalike in the world.
For more information visit vaustralia.com.au, virginblue.com.au, virgin-atlantic.com.
Report by Mark Caswell
Read more about...
Bookmark with:
ADD A COMMENT »
The big picture: BA’s Jubilee jumbo 28/05/2012
British Airways has painted one of its B747 aircraft with an emblem and message as part of its celebrations to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee — full story »
Hong Kong Airport takes step closer to third runway 28/05/2012
The Airport Authority of Hong Kong has submitted its project profile for a third runway, the start of a two-year Environmental Impact Assessment — full story »
Travelodge adds two Edinburgh properties 28/05/2012
The budget hotel group has opened hotels on Edinburgh’s Queen Street and Princes Street, the latter being a partnership with high street retailer Topshop — full story »
