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Virgin Atlantic is a private airlines operated by Richard Branson’s Virgin Group. Virgin Atlantic’s main base is London Heathrow (LHR), with a hub at London Gatwick (LGW).
Virgin Atlantic’s forerunner, British Atlantic Airways, operated flights from the UK to the Falkland Islands starting in 1982. Richard Branson who was earlier involved in music records business and had a company by the name Virgin Records decided to enter airlines business in 1984. He bought British Atlantic Airways and the new airlines began its operations on June 22, 1984. The inaugural flight was between London Gatwick and Newark. Virgin Atlantic established new standards of on board service and became the first airline to offer individual TVs to their business class passengers. In 1992, Richard Branson sold Virgin Music and invested the proceeds into Virgin Atlantic. In the same year Virgin Atlantic launched the first super economy service that went on to become award winning Premium Economy. In 1999, Richard Branson sold a 49% stake in the company to Singapore Airlines.
Virgin Atlantic has one of the youngest fleets in the world. Presently, it operates on Boeing 747 and Airbus A340 aircrafts. Virgin Atlantic has ordered six Airbus A380 aircrafts, which are due to be delivered from 2008. Virgin currently offers regular services to 25 destinations worldwide. Its destinations include U.K., U.S.A., Australia, Caribbean, China, India, Japan, Hong Kong, Nigeria, and South Africa. In India, Virgin Atlantic flies to Delhi and Mumbai.