V Australia Airline
Richard Branson's V Australia Airline to start US-Australia flights in 2009
Sydney, Australia - British Billionaire and Virgin Boss Sir Richard Branson is readying his V Australia airline for a grand launch. The new airline, which was announced June last year, will challenge Qantas's market control over Australia-US flights starting next year particularly the lucrative Sydney-Los Angeles route.
The 58-year-old Branson, who jetted into Australia to host the V Festival he organized, hopes to get the flights off the ground soon, with a target date of having air service from America to Australia on his V airline by next year.
Branson's British-based international airline Virgin Atlantic and Brisbane-based domestic airline Virgin Blue already compete with Qantas on the Britain-Australia route and local routes in Australia.
In 2006, Virgin Blue announced its plans to operate up to seven flights a week to the US either through Los Angeles or San Francisco. In July 2007, Australian regulatory bodies granted approval for Virgin Blue to operate up to 10 flights a week.
Virgin Blue purchased six Boeing 777-300ER airplanes from Boeing for international flights and plans are underway to lease a seventh aircraft from another company.
Branson's three Australasian airlines - Virgin Blue, New Zealand's Pacific Blue and Polynesian Blue - operate a fleet of 53 modern Boeing 737 aircraft flying to eight international and 22 Australian destinations.
allheadlinenews.com
Comments
It's going to make for interesting news media coverage in Australia with Richard Branson back in Australia this November or December, and Donald Trump down under at the same time. This two have some interesting and colourful history, and no doubt comparisons are going to be made once again, be it TV appearances, public speaking, publicity stunts et al.
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