Heathrow: competition regulator says airport charges should be reconsidered after errors made September 9, 2023 The competition regulator has provisionally found that some errors were made in a decision on how much Heathrow Airport can charge airlines. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it proposes to require aviation regulator the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to reconsider certain aspects of its conclusion. In February, the CAA said the cap on [...]
Virgin Atlantic pilots are tired and overworked, union warns as strike threat looms August 7, 2023 Virgin Atlantic pilots are tired and overworked, according to a survey by the UK’s pilots union, with over three quarters of the airline’s pilots saying they had flown with a tired colleague who was “clearly not fit to fly”. Over 88 per cent of the 900 pilots surveyed by British Airline Pilots’ Association (BALPA) had [...]
Virgin Galactic is set to fly tourists to the stars – but can space tourism become more than a hobby for the super rich? August 7, 2023 Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic is set to launch its first tourists to space on Thursday this week. The Galactic 02 mission, which follows the successful launch of the companies’ first commercial flight in June, will carry three paying customers – an 80-year old Olympian and a Caribbean mother-daughter duo. Launching from Spaceport America in New [...]
Virgin Atlantic pilot strike action up in the air amid fatigue row August 6, 2023 Virgin Atlantic is heading into turbulence pilots are revving up for a potential strike later this year, demanding an end to the pandemic changes that aimed to rescue the airline from bankruptcy. British Airline Pilots’ Association (Balpa), the union representing the pilots, has raised “serious concerns” about pilot fatigue and wellbeing as 96 per cent [...]
Virgin Orbit: Branson’s botched rocket project sells off assets and ends operations May 24, 2023 Virgin Orbit, Richard Branson’s failed rocket project, announced it are selling remaining assets and will cease operations, just months after an embarrassing mission failure. In a statement, the “responsive space launch provider” said our “legacy in the space industry will forever be remembered. Its ground-breaking technologies, relentless pursuit of excellence, and unwavering commitment to advancing the frontiers [...]
Richard Branson’s failed Virgin Orbit satellite launch was caused by dislodged fuel filter February 15, 2023 A dislodged fuel filter caused last month’s failure of the first attempt to launch satellites into orbit from the UK, Virgin Orbit has said. This caused an engine to overheat, leading to the malfunction of components and the premature shutdown of the LauncherOne rocket’s thrust, according to the company founded by billionaire Sir Richard Branson. [...]
BA and Virgin to restart flights to China after three years as Beijing welcomes back visitors February 2, 2023 Virgin Atlantic and British Airways have announced they will return to China for the first time in three years following Beijing’s reopening. Richard Branson’s airline – which stopped operating flights into China in December 2020 – announced today it will resume daily flights between Heathrow and Shanghai from 1 May. Meanwhile British Airways (BA) will [...]
Virgin Atlantic to honour Queen with new transatlantic plane January 23, 2023 Queen Elizabeth II will be honoured by British carrier Virgin Atlantic which will name its new Airbus after the late monarch. Sir Richard Branson-owned Virgin will unveil its new Airbus A330neo, called Queen of the Skies, after Her Majesty who died late last year. The plane is due to take to the skies in April [...]
Virgin Orbit rocket launch failure to be investigated by UK officials January 13, 2023 UK officials will work with counterparts in the US to oversee an investigation into the failure of Virgin Orbit’s rocket launch mission from Cornwall. The Space Accident Investigation Authority (CAIS) said it will work alongside the Federal Aviation Administration to “ensure that any relevant safety lessons are learnt”. The organisations will oversee Virgin Orbit’s investigation. [...]
Up-up but not away: Branson’s historic Virgin Orbit UK rocket launch ends in failure after anomaly forces return to earth January 10, 2023 An attempt to make British space history by launching a rocket into orbit from UK soil has ended in failure after suffering an “anomaly” during the flight. After taking off from Cornwall, the Virgin Orbit plane flew to 35,000ft over the Atlantic Ocean where it jettisoned the rocket containing nine small satellites towards space. Organisers [...]