Chris Jasper/SHANGHAI
Virgin Atlantic Airways chairman Richard Branson has mapped out plans for a major expansion of the UK carrier's Asian route network over the next few years while conceding that its aim of establishing a US domestic subsidiary looks unlikely to become a reality.
Speaking in Shanghai during the official launch of Virgin's new route from London Heathrow, Branson said the airline is "lobbying hard" for rights to fly to India. Singapore, Bangkok, Osaka and destinations in Australia are also high on the list as the carrier looks to add to an existing Asian network serving Hong Kong, Tokyo and Shanghai.
Virgin has also held talks with Shanghai-based China Eastern Airlines to discuss the possibility of operating flights for the carrier, which holds route rights, although China Eastern plans to launch its own London service next year.
Branson reveals that he recently met the Indian high commissioner in the UK to campaign for access to the sub-continent, and is targeting flights to Calcutta and Bombay. The airline hopes to be "up and flying" to Singapore, within 18 months. Services to Bangkok, Osaka and destinations in Australia are also possible. Branson implies that the financial justification for the latter is not yet strong enough.
Branson is pessimistic about plans for a US domestic carrier, where his ambitions have been thwarted by restrictions limiting foreign ownership of airlines to 25%. Virgin has already decided on "routes, equipment and staff", but sees little likelihood of Washington relaxing existing barriers.
Virgin has established its own low-cost "no frills" Virgin Express division in Europe, and Branson says that the US operation would "like to get in and fill in the gaps" not covered by Southwest Airlines, North America's most successful low-cost carrier.
Meanwhile, the Virgin boss remains lukewarm about the possibility of the airline going public, saying that although such a move would bring "certain advantages", he is "enjoying" being private. He also remains pledged to staying outside the global alliances, provided the EC tackles the "anti-competition issues" they pose.
Source: Flight International
