VIRGIN ATLANTIC PLANS FURTHER EXPANSION TO HONG KONG

Virgin Atlantic today announced that it plans to add further frequencies to Hong Kong as part of its long term aim of operating a double daily service. Earlier this month the airline announced it will increase frequencies between London and Hong Kong from seven flights per week to nine from 14 August and today is confirmed that it intends to add a further two flights per week from this Autumn.

Sir Richard Branson, Chairman of Virgin Atlantic, welcomed the news:

“Passenger demand on this route has grown continuously since we began operating flights in 1994, particularly during peak season. This planned expansion reflects our continuing faith in the strength of the Hong Kong market and of Asia more generally. Virgin Atlantic remains committed to growing its presence in Asia and we hope to soon move to a double daily service on Hong Kong.”

Schedules for the rest of the year will be announced in the near future. All flights to Hong Kong will be operated by Airbus A340-300 aircraft.

Sir Richard Branson outlined the airline’s overall strategy:

“Virgin Atlantic’s strategy is to maintain our recent spectacular growth – in the past couple of years alone we have begun services to Chicago, Cape Town, Las Vegas and Delhi and increased services to Las Vegas and San Francisco. We will also commence services to Toronto and Lagos from this summer. As other carriers are cutting their networks Virgin Atlantic will be offering passengers more seats on more services to more destinations.”

This summer Virgin will introduce an additional frequency to Las Vegas and reintroduce additional services to San Francisco over the peak summer season.