Tag Archives: Virgin Atlantic

Virgin Galactic takes key step toward commercial space travel

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Virgin Galactic takes key step toward commercial space travel

By Kate Rice
Virgin Galactic completed the first rocket-powered flight of its space vehicle, SpaceShipTwo (SS2) in Mojave, Calif., Monday.

This marks entrance into the final phase of vehicle testing prior to commercial service from Spaceport America in New Mexico.

The tests were done by teams from Mojave-based Scaled Composites and Virgin Galactic.

“The first powered flight of Virgin Spaceship Enterprise was without any doubt, our single most important flight test to date,” said Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson, who was in Mojave to watch the test.

In the coming months, Virgin Galactic and Scaled are working toward full space flight, which the companies anticipate will take place before the end of 2013.

Travel agency group Virtuoso has the exclusive rights to sell Virgin Galactic in the Americas. Several members who are Accredited Space Agents (ASAs).

Virgin Galactic spacecraft will carry six passengers on suborbital space flights. Passengers will have an out-of-the-seat, zero-gravity experience with views of Earth.

Branson pins profit hopes on Dreamliner

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Branson pins profit hopes on Dreamliner

By Robin Searle

Branson pins profit hopes on DreamlinerDelivery of Boeing’s troubled 787 aircraft will be crucial to Virgin Atlantic’s aim of returning to profitability by 2015, according to the airline’s president Sir Richard Branson.

Speaking to Travel Weekly during the inaugural celebrations for Virgin’s domestic offshoot Little Red in Edinburgh, Branson said he felt the target was viable and dependent on the integration of more cost-effective aircraft.

“As long as the 787s don’t get delayed again, there is every chance that it can be possible,” he said.

Virgin is due to take delivery of Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner in late summer 2014 as part of a wider fleet overhaul. It also hopes to boost revenue with the launch of Little Red services from Heathrow to Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Manchester and through an expected tie-up with Delta Air Lines in the US.

Virgin’s new chief executive Craig Kreeger believes the airline can transform a loss, expected to be about £130 million for the financial year to February 2013, into a profit within two years.

“(To return to profit) our strategy includes trying to find new sources of revenue, and that includes creating connectivity through Little Red and through the relationship with Delta,” said Kreeger.

“We have made some tough decisions, including a pay freeze for staff, but we have to ensure that no decisions are made at the expense of the customer or our people.”

The two airlines filed an application with the US Department of Transportation seeking antitrust immunity for their joint venture this week.

Speaking about the appointment of former American Airlines executive Kreeger, Branson said: “Craig has a lot of experience in the States, and through the Delta deal the States is going to play a bigger and bigger role in Virgin Atlantic’s future.”

Sixth Dreamliner problem forces grounding in Japan

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Sixth Dreamliner problem forces grounding in Japan

Jan 16, 2013
 Further question marks are being raised over the new generation Boeing 787 Dreamliner after Japan’s two main airlines grounded the aircraft.

The decision was talen after one was forced to make an emergency landing over night because of battery problems.

All Nippon Airways grounded its fleet of 17 Dreamliners after a flight from Yamaguchi Ube in western Japan was forced to land shortly after takeoff.

The ANA flight landed at Takamatsu airport at 8:47am local time on Wednesday after the pilot saw an error message and smoke was seen in the cockpit.

Japan Airlines then followed suit, saying it would take its fleet of seven 787s out of service from today (January 16) until further notice.

Dreamliners have suffered a total of six issues, including fuel leaks, a cracked cockpit window, brake problems and an electrical fire, in recent weeks.

ANA said that the 129 passengers and 8 crew were evacuated, with a number of people sustaining minor injuries.

Five people were injured, according to Reuters, while Bloomberg said that one person was sent to hospital.

A Boeing spokesman told the BBC that the company was “aware of the diversion of a 787 operated by ANA to Takamatsu in western Japan”.

He added that Boeing “will be working with our customer and the appropriate regulatory agencies”.

Boeing was already facing a probe by Japanese and US authorities over its Dreamliner issues.

The US Federal Aviation Administration last week started a broad review of the design, manufacturing and assembly of the Dreamliner.

India’s aviation regulator said it would review the Dreamliner’s safety and talk to parts makers following the ANA incident.

United Airlines is the only US carrier currently flying Dreamliners, and the carrier said it was not taking any immediate action.

Thomson Airways is due to start flying the 787 this year followed by British Airways and Virgin Atlantic.