Jorge1812 From Germany, joined Apr 2004, 2809 posts, RR: 7 Posted (2 years 5 months 1 week 6 days 2 hours ago) and read 7681 times:
Hi.
The question in my head is as simple as it is short. Does Sir Richard Branson (SRB - right?) own a private jet or does he travel on scheduled flights (maybe in Eco?) or on chartered jets?
Any help is welcome, I can't remember having read something like that in his Book "Loosing my Virginity"
Dogfighter2111 From United Kingdom (Scotland), joined Nov 2004, 1943 posts, RR: 1 Reply 2, posted (2 years 5 months 1 week 6 days 1 hour ago) and read 7602 times:
I don't think he has his own Private Jet, but i do beleive he uses his own aircraft whenever he wants if there is an aircraft available.
LeonB1985 From United Kingdom, joined Apr 2005, 720 posts, RR: 3 Reply 3, posted (2 years 5 months 1 week 6 days 1 hour ago) and read 7495 times:
He doesn't own a private jet, to my knowledge. I expect he wouldn't use it enough to actually make it worth owning one. Presumably he charters aircraft as and when necessary.
From the construction site that is better-known as London Heathrow Airport
Fbgdavidson From United Kingdom (England), joined Oct 2004, 3248 posts, RR: 22 Reply 4, posted (2 years 5 months 1 week 6 days ago) and read 7447 times:
Well Necker Island, not sure how much time he spends there now though, isn't big enough for an airstrip, although nearby Virgin Gorda does have a very small dirt one. Wouldn't be surprised if he has a light aircraft to fly around to EIS and a helicopter to get to Necker.
According to GDB he rather liked flying BA Concorde on ID90s!!
From this thread which must have been just a few weeks before Concorde's retirement was announced. Virgin Was To Buy Two AF Concordes (by TR Mar 6 2003 in Civil Aviation)
"My first job was selling doors, door to door, that's a tough job innit" - Bill Bailey
Unicorn From Vatican City State (Holy See), joined Nov 2003, 102 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (2 years 5 months 1 week 6 days ago) and read 7380 times:
When he goes out to Australia he flies on Virgin Atlantic. Before they flew to Auustralia he used to fly with major shareholder Singapore Airlines.
Between both airlines he can usually fly wherever he chooses.
I do not believe he owns a private aircraft, although the option to charter is always there.
Carduelis From United Kingdom, joined Dec 2001, 1560 posts, RR: 8 Reply 6, posted (2 years 5 months 1 week 6 days ago) and read 7347 times:
As a Director operating his own airline, he is allowed ID00 on any other carrier. He often flies in BA's First for free, just like Freddie Laker used to!
Per Ardua ad Astra! ........ Honi Soit Qui Mal y Pense!
PDXflyer31 From United States, joined May 2006, 97 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (2 years 5 months 1 week 6 days ago) and read 7323 times:
If any of you guys remember his show "The Rebel Billionaire" a couple years ago, he used a VS A343 to shuttle his contestants around the world. That doesn't necessarily mean that he doesn't have his own jet, but one would think that he would show it off at least once during the show. Like in The Apprentice when Donald Trump showcased his private B727 several times by taking contestants on it.
UAL777UK From United Kingdom, joined Nov 2005, 2249 posts, RR: 1 Reply 9, posted (2 years 5 months 1 week 5 days 16 hours ago) and read 6938 times:
He is well known for tracvelling on his own airline to get from A to B and whilst on those flights walks around and talks to the passengers, gaining massive publicity which of course is not in his nature!
BCAL From United Kingdom, joined Jun 2004, 3139 posts, RR: 19 Reply 10, posted (2 years 5 months 1 week 5 days 13 hours ago) and read 6792 times:
Quoting Cosec59 (Reply 1): For goodness sake don't let him think that not everyone has heard of him
Who is this Richard Branson then? Some movie star or perhaps some member of a boy rock band who has been caught with his pants down?
AFAIK Branson does not have any private jet. He is too tight with money to shell out on this sort of luxury, when he can fly for free on BA and many other airlines. He can also commander one of the VS aircraft to transport him, just like he did for the summit in Scotland when the world leaders were meeting at Gleneagles and some protest was also planned to coincide with it.
And according to Tom Bowers' book, Branson often takes taxis but always leaves others to pay the fares as "he rarely carries any money with him"!
I have never heard of Branson giving generously to charity or to other causes, apart from the foreign coins being collected on VS aircraft and then given to charity. It is strange that when Branson is raking in money from Heaven (the gay nightclub underneath the arches at Charing Cross that he owns), BA is the official airline and a major sponsor of Europride, whilst there is no mention of the Virgin Group among other sponsors.
I love talking about nothing. It's the only thing I know anything about. Oscar Wilde
Lhrmaccoll From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 17, posted (2 years 5 months 1 week 5 days 6 hours ago) and read 4833 times:
Quoting FURUREFA (Reply 19): Why wouldn't he? Arpey can fly UA, so why can't SRB fly BA?
Its just suprising because SRB is so precious and loathes BA, I must admit i'm suprised at that.
Unless hes making the point that he taking it free and taking some revenue off them! Funny guy
Alex
MontanaFL From United States, joined Dec 2003, 93 posts, RR: 0 Reply 18, posted (2 years 5 months 1 week 5 days 6 hours ago) and read 4573 times:
I didnt know who he was until after VS started up. I give the guy alot of credit. He is a businessman trying to make a buck. I think people that criticize him are just plain and simply jealous. So what if he is frugal why do you think he is a billionaire? I am sure he spends where he has too and saves when he needs too and when you own your own airline, why have a private plane? Would make sense though - ease in travel at the last minute, etc. I havent heard any negative press on him and even if I did would probably pass it off as jealousy.
PropilotJW From United States, joined Mar 2000, 564 posts, RR: 6 Reply 19, posted (2 years 5 months 1 week 5 days 6 hours ago) and read 4497 times:
It is quite common for CEO's and such from airlines to fly on harsh competitors craft. A route is a route regardless of the paint on the outside of the aircraft. David Neeleman flies on Delta when needed to SLC and other cities. Just because the public thinks that the airline guys hate eachother, doesn't mean that they really do. The airline industry is very small and inthe end of the day, we are in this together.
Jat74l From United Kingdom (Scotland), joined May 2004, 618 posts, RR: 13 Reply 20, posted (2 years 5 months 1 week 5 days 5 hours ago) and read 4020 times:
I once collected him from EDI off a BA shuttle and drove him around for the day when I was a junior manager in one of his Rail companies.
Say what you like about the guy but when I spent time with him in private and "off the air" I found him to be a gent. He treated me with respect and even insisted I join himself and some senior colleagues for lunch at the then Virgin Hotel near the airport.
You may be right about the cash though as when we'd finished he just shook a few hands, walked out - and we followed him!!!
Regards
John
I like trains just as much as planes but trains don't like the Atlantic!
Dutchjet From Netherlands, joined Oct 2000, 7864 posts, RR: 57 Reply 21, posted (2 years 5 months 1 week 5 days 5 hours ago) and read 3921 times:
Unless Virgin America gets its operating certificate very soon.....Sir Richard is going to have a fleet of Airbus A32X aircraft to use as private jets.
Desh From India, joined Aug 2005, 182 posts, RR: 0 Reply 22, posted (2 years 5 months 1 week 5 days 4 hours ago) and read 3125 times:
Say whatever you may - the guy has had the smarts to start with almost nothing and create everything he has from scratch - after you have done that I think you wouldnt give sh*t about what others think of you .... as far as owning aircraft is concerned till the time h
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