Word: virginal
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: all
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
...Virgin America's minimalist approach extends much farther than the cabin door, to what CEO David Cush calls its "operating and complexity costs." The airline is flying newer, more fuel-efficient planes and only Airbus models, to simplify maintenance, which it outsources. It flies only point to point, on high-traffic routes that it expects will be profitable. This streamlining allows Virgin America to introduce itself to American flyers with ultra-low fares, which its competitors are scrambling to match after losing a two-year regulatory battle to keep Virgin America out of the U.S. The airline will raise prices...
...Virgin Confederacy...
Branson is in Los Angeles to celebrate the launch of V Australia, which will begin flying from Sydney to Los Angeles on Dec. 15. With that last piece of the puzzle in place, he proclaims, "I can finally fly all the way around the world on a Virgin plane!" Over lunch, he and the Australians hatch plans to promote it with a classic Virgin publicity stunt, inevitably involving an appearance by Sir Richard...
...Virgin's airlines operate more like a loose regional federation, connected by the Virgin brand (an extension of Branson's lighthearted persona in a red-and-purple color scheme) but otherwise owned and operated independently. Each has its own business model--different services for different customers in a different set of cities--but they can work together as needed. Virgin Atlantic, V Australia and Virgin America, for example, plan to share a first-class lounge at LAX and thus reduce overhead. Virgin America, V Australia and Virgin Blue can decide on a whim to allow some of their flight attendants...
Branson likes to cultivate an image of himself as a risk taker. He was right in character at the press conference announcing V Australia, staged inside one of the departure terminals at LAX, to the slight confusion of people walking toward security. As Brett Godfrey, Virgin Blue's CEO, unveils the airline's introductory fare--$1,000 round trip between Sydney and Los Angeles--Branson, in jeans and a rumpled polo shirt, interrupts. "That's not good enough," he declares. "What kind of plane are we flying? 777s? Then let's make it $777 for the first thousand tickets!" People...