CHOOSING May 22 to launch its inaugural flight to Shanghai has proved a bit of an own goal for Virgin Atlantic.
For as readers of Backchat must surely know – even if Backchat didn’t – May 22 is the date of the all-important FA Cup Final between Newcastle United and Manchester United.
Naturally, Virgin chairman Richard Branson is not going to let one of the biggest dates in the football calender steal his limelight.
The football match will be shown live in the airport lounge at Heathrow and the inaugural flight, due to depart at 4.15pm, will be delayed until the match ends – even if it does run into extra time!
“We realise there will be some people on the flight who want to watch the game and we are happy to accommodate them,” said a spokesman.
The Guild of Business Travel Agents, holding its annual conference in Switzerland from May 22-24, is less concerned that the events clash.
“At least it is not Chelsea playing, as the GBTA has a lot of Chelsea supporters,” said chief executive Philip Carlisle.
There’s also a lack of FA fever from the GBTA’s Newcastle contingent. “Being 700 miles away in Switzerland suits me just fine,” said Horncastle Executive Travel managing director Peter Drummond.