Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications
Monday, Nov 21, 2005
Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications Monday, Nov 21, 2005 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Logistics
-
Airlines Corporate - Diversification Virgin Airlines may enter hospitality sector Ashwini Phadnis
New Delhi , Nov. 20 THE UK-based Virgin Atlantic Airlines is not only keen to expand its operations in India but could also look at entering the hospitality sector on its own, the Group Chairman, Sir Richard Branson, has said. "We would like to see Virgin Atlantic grow its network and fly to more cities here. In fact I have rung back home asking people to see whether it is possible to fly to Kolkata," Mr Branson said. Asked about the cities to which the airline would like to increase its flights, he felt there were several options that needed to be looked at. "The thing with India is that there could be a number of cities that could be underserved and may not have showed up yet. On the flight here one of the flight crew gave me a piece of paper with the name of an Indian city saying there was great potential for a Virgin flight there," Mr Branson said. Earlier this year, the airlines Chief Executive, Mr Steve Ridgeway, expressed similar sentiments about the potential of the domestic market. In an informal interaction with the media, Mr Ridgeway indicated that in the medium term the airline would look at expanding operations to Bangalore and Hyderabad. "We are also looking at operating to Goa along with Virgin Holidays. It is possible that we start operations to Goa before going to Bangalore or Hyderabad," Mr Ridgeway said. Currently, the airline operates a daily flight between Delhi and London and will increase the frequency of flights from Mumbai to a daily service from December this year. Turning his attention to the group's interest in the hospitality industry, Mr Branson said there was a "desperate need" for more hotel rooms. Asked whether the group would look to invest by itself in the hospitality sector, he said that was a possibility.
Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page More Stories on : Airlines | Diversification
|
Stories in this Section |
|
The Hindu Group: Home | About Us | Copyright | Archives | Contacts | Subscription Group Sites: The Hindu | Business Line | The Sportstar | Frontline | The Hindu eBooks | The Hindu Images | Home |
Copyright © 2005, The
Hindu Business Line. Republication or redissemination of the contents of
this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of
The Hindu Business Line
|