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The U.S. department of transportation has finally given approval for Virgin America Airlines to start its services as soon as it secures necessary safety clearances. The department has been reviewing the case for the last 18 months in view of shares held in the company by British entrepreneur Charles Bronson.

The department has granted the approval, which was initially rejected in December 2006, after the company assured regulators it would adhere to the legal norm of restricting ownership of domestic airlines to U.S. citizens.

source: earthtimes.org

Virgin Atlantic Airways today launched daily services between London Heathrow and Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. Chicago, which becomes Virgin Atlantic’s 27th destination worldwide, will be the airline’s tenth US gateway. Chicago is a key destination in its own right as well as a hub for the Mid West.

source: v-flyer

Virgin America Inc., based in Burlingame, said Monday a report in London’s Daily Mail newspaper incorrectly stated the upstart carrier plans flights between the United States and England. Virgin America is only planning domestic service, said spokesman Gareth Edmondson-Jones.

“‘Our focus is to bring more travel choices and fare competition to U.S. travelers, beginning with flights between San Francisco and New York,'” Edmondson-Jones said.

source: bizJournal.com

Richard Branson’s Virgin Atlantic said it remains interested in snapping up rival bmi, but a bmi spokeswoman reiterated on Friday that the carrier was not interested.

“‘We have always said we are interested in bmi and we will continue to look at it,'” Virgin Atlantic spokesman Paul Charles was quoted as saying in the Daily Telegraph. A spokeswoman for the airline confirmed the remark late on Thursday.

She said Virgin Atlantic — 51-percent-owned by Branson and 49-percent by Singapore Airlines — had repeatedly acknowledged an interest in bmi.

source: Reuters

The Transportation Department removed a barrier yesterday to Virgin America’s plans to start a U.S. airline, voicing support for its plan to comply with laws limiting foreign control of a domestic carrier.

The agency gave a tentative OK to a revised plan filed in January by Burlingame, Calif.-based Virgin America, saying in a prepared statement that the revised plan “‘should meet U.S. ownership rules'” that cap foreign control of a U.S. airline at 25 percent. The startup still faces opposition from several U.S. airlines.

source: Baltimore Sun

Virgin Group has re-entered talks with AirAsia about taking a stake in the Malaysia-based low-cost airline, in a move that would give the British company a wider foothold in the Asian market.

It is understood that AirAsia has approached Virgin in the hope that its Virgin Atlantic subsidiary would invest in the Malaysian airline. It is the second time that the two companies have spoken after Virgin Blue, the group’s Asian unit, and AirAsia discussed investment in 2003.

source: Times On Line

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Virgin America Inc., the Burlingame-based brainchild of Sir Richard Branson, expects federal authorities to reject its application to start a low-cost U.S. airline. Competitors had raised concerns that foreigners such as Branson would wield too much influence in the venture.

U.S. law requires that Americans control domestic airlines flying within the country and that foreigners hold no more than 25 percent of a domestic airline’s stock.

Virgin Atlantic has said that they are deferring their order for the new Airbus A380 by four years. The company had ordered six of the new superjumbos for delivery in 2009 but they now want them delivered by 2013.

A380 plane has been a problem for Airbus as it has already suffered too many delays. Market had been speculating that Virgin would ditch the plane altogether but they have responded by stating that they still are confident about this plane.

source: techwhack

Virgin Atlantic is pleased to announce its first ever Flying Without Fear course (FWF) to be held at Southampton Airport on 03 December 2006. Virgin Atlantic, in association with FWF Limited, offers one day courses throughout the year, aimed at teaching sufferers how to overcome their fear. The course includes an optional 45 minute flight at the end of the session.

source: Easier