Virgin Atlantic Group will create 1,100 new jobs this year as it prepares to expand its services by adding new frequencies to the USA and elsewhere on its network.
The carrier announced that it is building up its daily services from London Heathrow to Boston and Washington with another three flights per week as well as bumping its New York Newark service up to daily by adding one more flight per week.
A Virgin Atlantic spokesman says: "We expect to reach 1,100 new jobs this year, with cabin crew adding 700 to 800 positions, 70 pilots and more staff at both Heathrow and Gatwick airports and at head office."
Besides these three destinations, the airline is also adding more frequency this year on its Las Vegas and Shanghai services. Additionally it is preparing to launch services to Australia this year with flights to Sydney by the end of 2004.
"We are preparing the company for a period of expansion and we believe the market is coming back," says the spokesman. He hints at more growth for 2005.
Load factor
The new jobs will bring the carrier back to the level before September 2001, when it cut 1,300 positions. In 2002 it started the recruitment process hiring approximately 300 staff.
Since the beginning of the year load factor has improved to 10% year-on-year, says the spokesman. This does however follow two difficult years for the industry in 2002 and pre-Iraq War 2003.
Source: Flight Daily News
