Gigneil From United States of America, joined Nov 2002, 16215 posts, RR: 88 Reply 1, posted (8 years 1 month 3 weeks 1 day 6 hours ago) and read 2735 times:
AeroWesty From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 18832 posts, RR: 64 Reply 2, posted (8 years 1 month 3 weeks 1 day 5 hours ago) and read 2707 times:
I was surprised to open the link and find the first line to be:
SIR Richard Branson, Chairman, Virgin Atlantic Airways, wants to invest in a domestic airline in the country.
Karan69 From India, joined Oct 2004, 2782 posts, RR: 19 Reply 3, posted (8 years 1 month 3 weeks 1 day 5 hours ago) and read 2675 times:
On the program Big FiSH on NDTV profit channel they interviewed Branson,
He said he would love to go double daily to both BOM and DEL.
Also talked about investing 50milllion USD in an indian carrier.
Possibility of Airport Infrastructure Investment.
He also said that AI was partly responsible for India being held back in the International market, but ultimately blamed the GOI for its backward attitude towards AI and civil aviation in India
Behramjee From Canada, joined Aug 2003, 4439 posts, RR: 43 Reply 4, posted (8 years 1 month 3 weeks 1 day ago) and read 2571 times:
A further set of 21 flights is due for negotiation at the next round of civil aviation talks between India and the UK, of which Virgin Atlantic's share is pegged at an ambitious 11.
This is the most interesting quote from the article. But the main question is it accurate? Mendis???
Now lets say it is :
1. BOM will go daily so 4 more flights...leaving 7.
2. BLR might see 4 weekly
3. 3 weekly flights to MAA or HYD could be added.
However I detected one flaw in this article and that is it states that UK carriers can fly to ATQ and AMD which is not correct as according to the amended bilateral agreed upon recently, these 2 cities were not listed but HYD-BLR and COK were instead for UK carriers.
Stealthpilot From India, joined May 2004, 510 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (8 years 1 month 3 weeks 22 hours ago) and read 2507 times:
Virgin always wanted more access to India, this is nothing new. Branson has been after daily Bombay flights and he had requested a 3x or 4x to Bangalore a while ago which went to BA. Interesting article nevertheless
All he did was wear a dhoti? Well that's nothing compared to his usual standards huh. Are they using the a346 to BOM?
Unlike a lot of ppl I love Virgin!! yeaaaaaaa
-Nikhil
No only for the inaugural flight LHR-BOM and that too with special permission from BOM Airport Authorities were they allowed to fly in an A 346...for the meantime an A 343 will fly the route.
I recall someone saying on A.Net that Indian airports are not ready as yet to handle the A 346...so until that is solved we'll only see A 343s and B 744s of VS flying to India currently and in the near future.
Antonovman From United Kingdom, joined Mar 2001, 719 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (8 years 1 month 3 weeks 18 hours ago) and read 2400 times:
i flew DEL - LHR on VS around one month ago and there was a maximum of 40
people on that aircraft. We all moved around after take off and got a row of seats each so i cant see why they want to double the flights when they cant fill one. It was just as well we could move as the IFE was shocking. Tiny little screens and around 75 % not working. I moved 4 times before i found a screen and audio that worked.
TKMCE From India, joined May 2002, 841 posts, RR: 2 Reply 10, posted (8 years 1 month 3 weeks 15 hours ago) and read 2333 times:
Quoting AeroWesty (Reply 2): I was surprised to open the link and find the first line to be:
SIR Richard Branson, Chairman, Virgin Atlantic Airways, wants to invest in a domestic airline in the country.
Maybe we'll see a Virgin-India, too.
*************
Branson's interest in investing in Indian domestic airlines is an old story. At one point it was strongly rumoured he would put up a stake in Air Deccan,but now that no longer seems to be a possibilty.
AIR MALTA From Malta, joined Sep 2001, 2364 posts, RR: 1 Reply 11, posted (8 years 1 month 3 weeks 15 hours ago) and read 2333 times:
Virgin wants more flights to India, BMI and BA too, and let's not forget Air India and Jet Airways. And if you add the pressure of EK, QR, KU, GF, EY...That makes a lot of players for one market.
I don't know where British carriers are going to but that it is certainly not healthy in this consolidation market. No wonder that BA has slipped from n 1 in Europe to n 3 but all those challenging conditions. AF and LH have monopoly on their home markets. BA has to face 2 other major players. VS too. BD too. UK needs also some consolidation.
So I don't know where the 3 are going to go but it is certainly not the right direction.
Himmat01 From India, joined Dec 2004, 1027 posts, RR: 6 Reply 13, posted (8 years 1 month 3 weeks 10 hours ago) and read 2177 times:
The Mid day has reported that Branson nearly got deported from bombay because he landed with an expired visa. When he was issued a 'refuse to land' certificate, he allegedly called up the PM's office and got himself a Temporary Landing Permit for 72 hours.
Seems if you have the contacts, anything is possible in India. Link to the article:
Skyguy From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 461 posts, RR: 0 Reply 14, posted (8 years 1 month 3 weeks 10 hours ago) and read 2162 times:
Quoting Himmat01 (Reply 13): Branson nearly got deported from bombay because he landed with an expired visa. When he was issued a 'refuse to land' certificate, he allegedly called up the PM's office and got himself a Temporary Landing Permit for 72 hours.
When you are Richard Branson, these things are mere inconveniences.
I couldn't imagine an Indian business baron arriving at LHR with an expired visa and calling No.10 to help him out.
"Those who talk, do not know, and those who know, do not talk."
Skyguy From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 461 posts, RR: 0 Reply 15, posted (8 years 1 month 3 weeks 10 hours ago) and read 2160 times:
If VS want double daily to BOM & DEL, then I can assure that BA would probably want more than that.
As early as back in 1996 BA's then Chairman, Sir Colin Marshall, lobbied Delhi heavily, when asked what he wanted he said double daily to BOM & DEL plus more in winter season.
You can only imagine with todays traffic 9 years later what they could fill up.
"Those who talk, do not know, and those who know, do not talk."
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