VIRGIN HOLIDAYS ON TRACK FOR BUMPER YEAR

Virgin Holidays is on track for a bumper year Managing Director Ron Simms announced today.

‘Following a successful winter programme, our target on long haul packages for calendar year 2001 is already 83% achieved,’ he said. ‘We are confident that this year we will smash through the 300,000 passengers barrier for the first time.’

Simms also said that a definite upward trend could be identified with early sales for 2002 (departures up to 30 April 2002) already showing a 47% load factor.

Speaking on the day that First Choice announced that it has acquired the assets, but not the aircraft, of Virgin Sun, the short haul package holiday operation successfully set up by Virgin Holidays two years ago, Simms said: ‘We have decided to concentrate on our hugely successful long haul programmes. Virgin operates in environments where the Virgin flair can make a real difference, while there is insufficient room to offer short haul package holidays significantly different to our competitors, long haul holidays is where we lead the way.’

Since its inception in 1986, Virgin Holidays has become the UK’s number one tour operator to Florida and the US and is bidding to become the UK’s leading long-haul operator world-wide through a major three year expansion plan.

‘We will be introducing Canada through Virgin Atlantic’s new route to Toronto, doubling in size our South African programme and expanding our Asia and Far East programme by featuring many new countries available to us through Singapore Airlines’ routes,’ said Simms.

Additionally, Virgin Holidays will be offering round the world packages from just £2,250.