How Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group makes money and what it’s worth today Business City A.M. has taken a look at what Virgin Group still owns and what companies pay to use the brand's name.
Should Britain legalise cannabis? Virgin boss Richard Branson thinks so Cannabis Virgin boss Richard Branson has appealed to the UK government to legalise and regulate cannabis, claiming it would save lives and bring in more tax. The entrepreneur and tycoon penned a heartfelt blog saying the move “makes sense”, and that the efforts to legalise it are ones he has “long supported”. Branson said he backed [...]
Virgin Atlantic chief Shai Weiss: UK ‘short sighted’ on red tape rules for connecting flights Interview New red tape imposed on passengers travelling via connecting flights is hurting UK aviation's competitiveness, Virgin Atlantic's boss said
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 [...]