VIRGIN AMERICA RANKED TOP US
AIRLINE
Jul 02, 2013
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - Virgin America, the
California-based airline that is
reinventing travel, today was named "Top
Domestic Airline" in the prestigious
Travel + Leisure 2013 World's Best
Awards readers' survey – for the sixth
consecutive year. The annual Travel +
Leisure World's Best Awards highlight
the results of a survey that captures
the opinions of Travel + Leisure readers
on their favorite travel experiences. In
this 18th annual readers' survey,
airlines were rated by Travel + Leisure
readers in four categories, including:
cabin comfort, in-flight service,
customer service and value. Select
survey results, including Virgin
America's win, were profiled on NBC's
TODAY Show this morning and are now
featured onwww.TravelandLeisure.com/worldsbest.
"Receiving independent feedback from
thousands of the most discerning
travelers out there is not only an honor
but a continued validation of the work
of our teammates in creating a service
experience that stands head and
shoulders above the competition," said
Virgin America President and CEO David
Cush. "Awards like this show that we're
continuing to live up to the mission set
out for the airline from day one: to
reinvent the domestic flying experience
and create an airline people really
love. We're grateful to our loyal flyers
who have always believed that they can
and should expect more from an airline –
and we intend to keep delivering on that
promise."
With topnotch guest service, beautiful
design and a variety of innovative
amenities, Virgin America has earned a
host of industry awards since launching
service in 2007. With one of the
youngest fleets in the U.S., Virgin
America offers guests sleek,
tech-forward aircraft cabins with
custom-designed seating, fleetwide
in-flight WiFi, signature "moodlighting,"
power outlets near every seat and the
most advanced in-flight entertainment
system in the skies. The Red™ in-flight
entertainment platform offers every
traveler a seatback touch-screen with
on-demand films, live and premium TV,
interactive Google Maps, music videos,
videogames, seat-to-seat chat, a 4,000
MP3 library and an on-demand menu – so
guests can order a cocktail or meal from
their seatback at any time during the
flight. In April 2013, the airline added
the ability for guests to send a menu
item via the touch-screen menu to fellow
travelers in another seat. Virgin
America offers one of the largest
selections of fresh menu items, with a
focus on lighter, more health-focused
options in keeping with the airline's
California roots. The menu was named
best in the U.S. in 2009 by Travel +
Leisure.
In 2012, Virgin America opened its first
airport lounge – The Loft at LAX – and
launched a suite of enhancements to its
Elevate® frequent flyer program,
including Elevate Gold and Elevate
Silver status levels that offer perks
that include: priority check-in,
security clearance and boarding; points
earning bonuses; free checked bag
allowances; enhanced digital/social
rewards; private discounts; an expanded
advance purchase upgrade window for the
airline's exclusive eight-seat First
Class; complimentary space-available
upgrades to the carrier's premium Main
Cabin Select service; and complimentary
access to the best seat assignments
within Main Cabin.
Since its 2007 launch, Virgin America
has expanded its network to include San
Francisco, Los Angeles, New York,
Newark, Washington D.C. (IAD and DCA),
Las Vegas, San Diego, Seattle, Boston,
Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Dallas-Fort
Worth, Los Cabos, Cancun, Chicago,
Puerto Vallarta, Palm Springs
(seasonal), Philadelphia, Portland, San
Jose, Austin and most recently,
Anchorage (seasonal).
San Francisco-based
Virgin America is an American LCC,
owned by VAI Partners and The Virgin Group. With
its fleet of Airbus narrowbody
aircraft and a popular low-cost product, Virgin
America operates a network of services along
the US West
Coast, as well as trans-national services
services between major cities on the East and
West Coasts of the US. Virgin America's largest
base is at San
Francisco International Airport.
RICHARD
BRANSON'S OUTLOOK ON LIFE AND HOW IT CAN HELP
YOUR TRAVEL BUSINESS
June 2nd, 2014 . by John Frenaye
Richard Branson clearly knows a thing or two
about success. At 20, he started a mail
order shop, and opened a recording studio a
short while later. Record stores, airlines, and
galactical travel. At times, it seems the man
can do no wrong and his net worth is ..oh hell,
my calculator doesn’t have that many zeros.
I had the chance to meet Sir Richard Branson
a few years back at the Virgin Mobile
FreeFest, a free music festival he throws at
a venue near my home each year. The man was
just like the legend. Funny, smart,
thoughtful, arrogant, ever-smiling, and a
real person—not some body guarded recluse
isolated from the minions. (Although I am
confident there was security trailing his
every move)
“I
enjoy every single minute of my life.”
I have found this to be so true. If you are
not enjoying what you do, you might as well
give up. Find what you love, and do it. I
know I could make a heck of a lot more money
and find some more widespread success in
other ventures; but as cliché as it is, I
love travel—and I am good at it.
“You
can’t be a good leader unless you generally
like people. That is how you bring out the
best in them.”
Branson practices this daily and it is a
great tenet to follow. It is the rare
individual that succeeds in a vacuum.
Somewhere along the way, you will need help.
When you genuinely like people, you can
indeed bring out the best of the best. And a
team assembled of the best is surely a
winner!
“I can
honestly say that I have never gone into
any business purely to make money. If that
is the sole motive, then I believe you are
better off doing nothing.”
OK, so we know that we never came into the
travel industry to make gobs of money. The
old joke in the airline industry (as Branson
likely knows) says that to make a million in
the airline industry, start with two million
dollars. Again, as cliché as it is, money
cannot buy the things that matter most for
people – wisdom, serenity, leadership,
happiness.
If you enjoy your job, you’ll never have to
work another day—someone else said it, not
me; but it is the truth. While you might not
be able to jump into your passion right
away, find the good in your job—it’s there,
just look for it. You may find your passion,
or your passion might find you.
“Right
now I’m just delighted to be alive and to
have had a nice long bath.”
Isn’t that the truth? Considering the
alternatives, being alive and thriving
is at the top of the list. But a nice
long refreshing bath is not too bad
either!
OK, so these quotes from Branson are not any
had and fast tips for success in your travel
business, but keeping them in mind should go
a long way towards framing your outlook on
business and life in general.
If you want to become a “fanboy” or a
“fangirl” of Sir Richard Branson, give him a
follow on Twitter at@richardbranson
VIRGIN LAUNCHES GLASS-BOTTOMED
PLANE
April 01, 2013
I’m thrilled to announce that Virgin has created
another world-first with the introduction of the
technology required to produce the
world’s first glass-bottomed plane. This
technological innovation coincides with the start of
Virgin Atlantic Airways’ first ever domestic service
to Scotland.
In 1984 we started the wonderful airline that is
Virgin Atlantic. I am incredibly proud of yet
another aviation breakthrough which has been years
in the making. I can’t wait to experience the first
flight for myself with my family and other natural
born explorers.
2012 was a year of celebrating what is brilliant
about Great Britain and I’m excited that in 2013 we
are continuing this uplifting spirit by developing
an experience that will enable Little Red passengers
to appreciate the beauty of the British landscape.
And with an unrivalled view of Scotland I hope this
gives Scottish tourism an even bigger boost.
We hope to trial the glass bottom technology with
other Virgin airlines in time and have askedother
Virgin companies to support this innovative trial and
launch our new domestic Scottish route. This really
is a team effort from all corners of Virgin.
By Richard
Branson. Founder of Virgin Group
SIR RICHARD BRANSON
PARTICIPATES IN TRADITIONAL MAASAI CEREMONY
Image via
wordpress.com
LONDON, England - Sir Richard Branson celebrates
the opening of Mahali Mzuri, the latest addition
to the Virgin Limited Edition portfolio, by
participating in a traditional Maasai ceremony.
The ceremony, which comes 6 years after Richard
originally became a recognised tribal Maasai
Elder in 2007, took place on the plains near
Mahali Mzuri and began with opening prayers.
Along with eight elders, Richard blessed Mahali
Mzuri with prayers, honey and a little beer! A
ceremonial fire using traditional fire sticks
and olive branches was placed onto the fire to
produce the smoke, which drifted through the
camp as a sign of blessing. This was followed by
the local Maasai community singing and dancing
around the fire before leading the crowd in a
march back up to the plains where they enjoyed a
blessing feast.
Sir Richard Branson commented: "It was an honour
and so much fun to participate in the ceremony.
It's a fantastic way to celebrate the official
opening of Mahali Mzuri and I'm thrilled that so
many of the local community have made it here
today to observe and take part in what was a
beautifully traditional and fitting way of
launching our new safari camp."
"I've recently been pleased to add my voice to
supporters of the tourism industry in Kenya and
we see this opening as a symbol of our
confidence in its long term future."
Joining Richard for this special opening
ceremony were Kenyan President Uhuru Muigai
Kenyatta and Cabinet Secretaries of Tourism and
Transport & Infrastructure, Hon. Phyllis Kandie
and Hon. Michael Kamau.
Hon. Phyllis Kandie said: "We are extremely
delighted to welcome Mahali Mzuri into the
staple of great tourism establishments in Kenya.
This new camp is a testimony of how
international investors like Sir Richard Branson
continue to have faith in Kenya."
Mahali Mzuri is situated within the Olare
Motorogi Conservancy in the Maasai Mara
ecosystem of Kenya, about 240km due west of
Nairobi. Mahali Mzuri consists of 12 sleeper
tents and can cater for a maximum of 24 guests
at any one time. Rates start from USD $590 per
person per night (based on double occupancy) and
are fully inclusive of all meals, drinks & daily
game drives as well as unlimited access to the
Olare Motorogi Conservancy.*
Mahali Mzuri is a joint partnership between Sir
Richard Branson and the Gehlot family, who run
the Intex Group of companies in Kenya. Members
of the Gehlot family joined Sir Richard Branson
for the opening ceremony.
Virgin Atlantic London to Toronto
Service
Over $200 million in
benefits to Toronto
 Sir
Richard Branson, Chairman of Virgin Atlantic
Airways has announced that the airline will launch
nonstop scheduled services between London and
Toronto from the summer of 2001. Speaking in
Toronto, the Chairman said: "It's long been my
ambition to fly to Toronto, and I am thrilled to be
able to announce our plans to launch a daily
service between London, Gatwick and Toronto from
next summer. "London-Toronto is a hugely popular
route and completes Virgin's presence on all top
ten longhaul routes out of London. We estimate that
the Virgin Atlantic service will provide an annual
economic benefit to Toronto to of more than $200
million Canadian in increased jobs, trade and
tourism.
 I
look forward to announcing some competitive fares
in the New Year, but the biggest difference
passengers on this route will notice is the
superior quality of our product. All our passengers
will enjoy their own seat back TV screen, with a
choice of up to 41 channels of films, drama, sports
and games. The business passenger will enjoy a
range of innovations, including complimentary
limousines at both ends of each journey, stand up
bars in the Upper Class cabin and in-flight
manicures and massages."
Last year 1.3 million
passengers traveled between London and Toronto
(262,000 of whom travelled to or from Gatwick)
making Toronto the fourth biggest longhaul route
out of London. A launch fare will be available from
January 2001. Daily flights will operate between
Gatwick and Toronto's Lester B. Person
International Airport, using a Boeing 747 aircraft.
This will be configured with 28 Upper Class seats,
326 Premium Economy and 358 in Economy.
Above Photo: Sir
Richard Branson, Chairman of Virgin Atlantic
Airways, arrived in Toronto to launch a daily
non-stop flight service between Toronto and London.
While in the city, Sir Richard laced up his skates
and joinerd the Etibicoke Dolphins girls'hockey
teacm for his first try out at Canada's favourite
sport. Photos by Michael Dubule.
There is a larger market for
leisure passengers on the route, and Virgin
Atlantic's sister company Virgin Holidays will be
offering a full holiday program. Holiday options
include Toronto as a city destination in its own
right, as well as a starting point for coach tours
and fly-drive holidays to other attractions such as
Niagara Falls. Virgin Vacations will also be
offering Canadian tourists a range of holiday
packages from Toronto to London and the rest of the
UK.
Sir Richard also commented
on the Canadian aviation market: "Since its
takeover of Canadian Airlines, Air Canada now holds
a hugely dominant position in the Canadian aviation
market, with around 80 per cent of domestic flights
and the majority of scheduled services between
Toronto and London. We are relying on regulations
to protect the interests of customers by keeping a
close watch on Air Canada's behavior, particularly
in setting the rates for connecting fares onward
from Toronto."
Finally the Chairman
highlighted the potential Canada holds for other
Virgin developments. " Virgin Atlantic is often the
platform for other Virgin companies and I hope that
today's announcement is the first of many from the
Virgin Group. We have a successful Mega store in
Vancouver and are looking to open more in Canada in
the near future. We're also actively considering
the potential for other new ventures in areas such
as mobile telephony."
He also spoke of rail
travel: "Virgin Rail in the UK has already
developed a fantastic relationship with leading
Canadian conglomerate Bombardier, having awarded
the company its biggest European train contract
with a $2 billion (Canadian) deal for the
construction of 789 high speed trains and their
maintenance until 2012. With this happy precedent,
I'm sure our experience in operating this hugely
important route will be a rewarding
one."
For more information please
contact the Virgin Atlantic Press Office at
011-44-1 293
747 373, or visit the Virgin Atlantic
website: www.virgin.com.
London-based Virgin Atlantic is one Britain’s
major international airlines with shareholders including
the Virgin Group and Singapore
Airlines.
Using a fleet of Airbus and Boeing wide-body
aircraft, Virgin Atlantic operates a network of
international services to North America, the Caribbean,
Asia, Africa and Australia from
its hubs at London’s Heathrow and GatwickAirports.
by Capa Aviation.
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