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Sir Richard Branson is seeking a buyer for Virgin Atlantic and has set an end-of-May deadline to save the airline from collapse after a taxpayer bailout proved beyond his reach. The Sunday Telegraph has learnt that the pursuit of a £500m government package has been effectively shelved and that the airline is now focused on securing new private investment in the shadow of potential insolvency.

BILLIONAIRE Richard Branson has refused to leave his private Necker Island in the British Virgin Island despite Hurricane Irma threatening to strike. Virgin boss Mr Branson said he would not leave the island he owns to escape the Hurricane Irma storm, which is becoming one of the largest on record, bringing with it 185mph winds. The National Hurricane Centre has warned the rainfall could cause life-threatening flash floods, torrential rain, fierce winds and mudslides. Earlier today the hurricane was upgraded to a Category 5 storm. Writing on his blog, Mr Branson said: “The devastation that hurricanes can cause cannot be...

Inspired by Apple CEO Tim Cook, Virgin founder Richard Branson has taken to his blog to say that businesses should begin standing up against climate change deniers. "While Tim told sustainability skeptics to 'get out of our stock,'" Branson writes, "I would urge climate change deniers to get out of our way." Cook's statements came at a recent shareholders meeting, where he soundly shot down a proposal rooted in climate change denial that would have had Apple putting its bottom line above its interests in sustainability. Cook said that those who would prefer Apple do everything purely for profit simply...

Tired of striking out at the singles bars? Then you might want to try a Virgin America flight. The airline has launched a new service that allows passengers to send a drink to someone on the plane who's caught their eye. It's done through the airline's in-flight entertainment system. Passengers pinpoint their designated hottie with Virgin's digital seat map, browse the menu and have a drink, snack or meal sent over. Passengers can also follow up with a text through the seat-to-seat messaging system. Virgin launched the service this week to mark the start of its Los Angeles to Las...

For 15 years she has proudly served her country as a Royal Navy engineer, risking her life in Afghanistan when she fought against the Taliban. But far from showing Nicky Howse the respect she deserved as she flew back to her latest posting, Virgin Atlantic staff chose to humiliate her—by demanding that she remove her uniform because it was “offensive”. They warned the 32-year-old helicopter technician she would not be allowed to fly unless she took off her combat fatigues and wore a sleep suit instead. … They told her—wrongly—that it was the company’s policy not to allow military personnel...

A federal magistrate judge Friday denied bail to a 24-year-old year man accused of being a stowaway after he slipped through multiple layers of airport security and hopped a flight from New York to Los Angeles. Judge Michael Wilner said Olajide Oluwaseun Noibi appeared to be a flight risk after a prosecutor said he believed Noibi would return to Nigeria. The magistrate judge said he was also concerned about the defendant's identity and where he actually lived. Noibi faces up to five years in prison if convicted of the offense. Authorities say Noibi used an expired boarding pass that did...

Los Angeles - A Nigerian man who flew from New York City to Los Angeles International Airport using an expired boarding pass that belonged to someone else was in custody today after being arrested as a stowaway aboard an aircraft, authorities said. Olajide Noibi was arrested Wednesday morning, said FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller. Noibi boarded Virgin American Flight 415 at JFK International Airport bound for LAX on Friday, Eimiller said. After the plane took off, flight attendants noticed there was an extra passenger, and when they examined Noibi's boarding pass they noticed that it was from the previous day and...

Dita Von Teese has been immortalized on the side of a Virgin Atlantic plane to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the airline's direct flights between London and Las Vegas. Virgin boss Richard Branson posed with the burlesque star on the wing of the aircraft on June 15 at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas as they unveiled a large picture of Von Teese emblazoned across the plane. (Von Teese via Twitter.com): "Headed out to Las Vegas today.....Sir Richard is in charge, so I'm sure it's going to be fun. Stay tuned!" "I've never actually walked on the wing of an...

Dear Mr Branson REF: Mumbai to Heathrow 7th December 2008 I love the Virgin brand, I really do which is why I continue to use it despite a series of unfortunate incidents over the last few years. This latest incident takes the biscuit. Ironically, by the end of the flight I would have gladly paid over a thousand rupees for a single biscuit following the culinary journey of hell I was subjected to at thehands of your corporation. Look at this Richard. Just look at it: [see image 1, above]. I imagine the same questions are racing through your brilliant...

Sir Richard Branson's airline Virgin Atlantic is to begin flying relief supplies to Iraq, and plans to reintroduce scheduled services to Baghdad. Sir Richard said: "The first few flights would be humanitarian flights delivering doctors, nurses and much-needed aid and supplies to the Iraqi population. "We're working with aid agencies and hope to operate flights as soon as we can. "In addition, by reintroducing scheduled air services we would play our role in the post-war reconstruction of Iraq." Sir Richard added: "Flights to and from Baghdad will be a key element in helping Iraq's long term regeneration, and reuniting families...

Even though they allow for high-volume servicing and back-in-a-flash trips to the john, the point-and-shoot-a-stinky-deodorizer-cake oddity known as the men’s restroom urinal has been, for women, a constant enigma. But nothing will prepare you for the men’s room in the newly-designed Virgin Airways Clubhouse in New York’s John F. Kennedy airport, terminal 4: Urinals shaped like a woman’s mouth, dolled up with red lipstick, wide open and ready for business. “In anything that we do there has to be a smile, and that’s the smile in this Clubhouse,” said John Riordan, Vice President of Customer Services for Virgin Airways....

BECKY Nyang was left feeling a little down in the mouth after a brush with death when she was struck by lightning on the Greek holiday isle of Corfu. The 26-year-old special service agent for Virgin at Heathrow is still shaken and recovering at her west Reading home after the lightning bolt zeroed in on her lip and tongue piercings. The drama began when she and a friend were forced to flee the beach at Kavos by an approaching storm and Becky was crossing the courtyard of their hotel. She said: "When it hit me all I could see was...

ATLANTA (CBS.MW) - Hooters of America, said late Thursday that a business entity owned by its chairman, Bob Brooks, has purchased Pace Airlines.In September, Brooks unsuccessfully attempted to purchase bankrupt Kansas City-based Vanguard Airlines.According to the company, Pace's current operations, which include charter services for sports teams and corporations, will remain intact while the new Hooters service will be operated as a separate division.A timetable for launch has not been set.Hooters Air is expected to cater to leisure travelers and golfers with Myrtle Beach, South Carolina serving as its primary destination."I am very pleased that my investigations into the airline...