| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 19/06/00 |
| Author: | Page Number: 2 |
| Copyright: Other |
Virgin plans launch of Australia flight service
VIRGINAtlantic will launch flights to Australia in 12 months, chairman Sir Richard Branson has claimed.A pledge to start Australia services has been made before by Sir Richard but he said new links with Singapore Airlines mean the flights are now viable.
Virgin is also starting an Australian domestic carrier, called Virgin Blue, next month. Sir Richard said this will feed passengers onto UK flights.
Speaking at the launch of the Las Vegas flights, he said: “Within 12 months Virgin will be flying to Singapore using our aircraft and on to Australia.”
The new services to Australia will be shared with Singapore Airlines, subject to regulatory approval.
Feeder flights from Australian cities on Virgin Blue are expected to connect onto UK services at Sydney.
An immediate problem for Virgin on launching Australia services is that SIA has close ties with Ansett Australia.
Sir Richard said there would be no pressure from SIA to put UK-originating passengers on Ansett Airlines instead of Virgin Blue.
Virgin and SIA are also expected to look at codesharing from the UK to US destinations.
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Australia: services to start in 12 months