VIRGIN AIRLINES

Virgin Airlines: Economic Actors, Legal Environment, Political Environment, Geographic Factors and Barriers to Aviation

Virgin Airlines: Economic Actors, Legal Environment, Political Environment, Geographic Factors and Barriers to Aviation

Introduction

Virgin Atlantic Airways (Virgin Atlantic) is a private airline 51% owned by Virgin Group and 49% owned by Singapore Airlines. The company currently operates a fleet of 38 aircraft, which includes 13 Boeing 747s and six Airbus 340-300s and 19 Airbus A340-600s.The company operates primarily in the Europe, the US and Asia Pacific. It is headquartered in West Sussex, the UK and employs 9,000 people. The company recorded revenues of £2,140 million during the fiscal year ended April 2007, an increase of 11.9% over 2006. The net profit was £46.8 million in fiscal year 2007, an increase of 12.5% over 2006.

Virgin Airlines: Economic Actors, Legal Environment, Political Environment, Geographic Factors and Barriers to Aviation

Virgin Atlantic Airways (Virgin Atlantic) is the second largest British long haul international airline, operating long haul services to 30 global destinations including 10 routes to the US, six to Asia Pacific, four African routes, one Indian Ocean, one route to the Middle East and 8 Caribbean destinations. Virgin Atlantic is a private airline 51% owned by Virgin Group and 49% owned by Singapore Airlines. It operates a fleet of 13 Boeing 747s and six Airbus 340-300s and 19 Airbus A340-600s. The airline also has six A380 aircraft on order until 2013. The airline has bases at both London's Gatwick and Heathrow airports. Virgin Atlantic offers three classes of travel - upper class, premium economy and economy all with inflight entertainment of which premium economy consists of a full fare separate economy cabin, and economy covers all other coach/economy fares. The company's passenger services division arranges check-in facilities, baggage handling, meal catering, and in-flight entertainment (Air Transport Association, 2002). This unit works in conjunction with the special assistance department to help passengers with special travel needs such as special meals or providing mobility aids, health camps at departure and arrival airports. In addition, the company operates business unit Virgin Atlantic Cargo for cargo transport as well as leisure marketing wing Virgin Holidays to sell seats on the new Virgin Atlantic routes to New York, Orlando and Miami (Air Transport Association, 2002).

Virgin Atlantic Cargo offers capacity on the airlines longhaul services from Heathrow to Boston, Cape Town, Delhi, Hong Kong, Johannesburg, Lagos, Los Angeles, Miami, New York (JFK and Newark), San Francisco, Shanghai, Tokyo and Washington, from Gatwick to Antigua, Barbados, Grenada, Las Vegas, Orlando, Port Harcourt, St. Lucia and Tobago and from Manchester to Orlando. Virgin Holidays offers a selection of holidays to the mainland US, Canada, Florida, Caribbean, Far East, India and Indian Ocean and South Africa. It is one of the largest transatlantic tour operators in the UK.

Virgin Atlantic also offers Flying Club, a frequent flier program. This rewards frequent fliers with free air miles that can then be used with the airline or some of its partners including Singapore Airlines and South African ...