Company Watch - Virgin Group

AirGuide Business, Sept 8, 2008

Sep 7, 2008

Polynesian Blue, the joint venture between Virgin Blue and the Samoan government, reported a pre-tax profit of NZ$9.2 million ($6.5 million) in the fiscal year ended June 30, up 71% from the NZ$5.4 million earned the prior year, the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation reported. On Sept. 12 DJ will add a 12th weekly Auckland-Apia frequency and on Dec. 1 it will launch weekly Brisbane-Apia service. Sep 1, 2008

Virgin Atlantic Airways is considering joining a consortium that may submit a bid for ownership of London Gatwick if airports operator BAA divests LGW, the carrier confirmed . "Virgin Atlantic would be interested in possibly bidding to run it, as part of a consortium. We would be able to bring our expertise in customer service into any ownership group," it said. VS declined to confirm reports that easyJet, Ryanair and Monarch Airlines might be part of the consortium, saying, "It is very early days in terms of Gatwick's future ownership and so we cannot comment on parties we may have held talks with--but we are watching developments closely." Sep 3, 2008

Virgin Atlantic is cutting flights on routes with light load factors including Washington Dulles, Mumbai, New York JFK and the Caribbean. Other flight cancellations, taking place this month, will cover services out of Gatwick to Barbados, St Lucia and Antigua. Next January there are a number of cancellations between Gatwick, Manchester and Orlando. For more information go to www.virgin-atlantic.com Sep 2, 2008

Virgin Atlantic Airways' Richard Branson, said it would be interested in bidding for London's Gatwick Airport if it were put up for sale, but only if other partners could be brought in. Virgin Atlantic would bring its strong customer service record to any consortium interested in buying Gatwick, Britain's second-biggest airport. The Virgin Atlantic director was responding to a report in the Daily Telegraph newspaper that said Branson was planning to bid for Gatwick with an offer that could cost more than GBP2 billion pounds (USD$3.6 billion). Branson has already held talks with potential bidders, he said, thought to include funds backed by the Dubai royal family, the Telegraph said. Gatwick is owned by Ferrovial's airport unit BAA. The UK Competition Commission ruled earlier this month that Ferrovial must sell three of seven British airports, including two of three London airports -- Gatwick, Heathrow and Stansted. The plan by Branson, which adds his name to a string of prospective buyers, is at an early stage as Gatwick is not yet formally up for sale, and a final report from the Competition Commission is not expected until next year. Sep 1, 2008

Virgin Blue will expand its Sydney training center and build a maintenance base in a move that is expected to create almost 1,000 jobs. It will add Boeing 737-800 and Embraer E-170 simulators to its recently opened V Australia training facility at Botany Bay, which already has a 777-300ER. Blue also announced that the first V Australia 777-300ER due for delivery in November will feature lie-flat beds and two bars. Sep 3, 2008

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