Virgin Express
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| Virgin Express | ||
|---|---|---|
| IATA SN | ICAO VEX |
Callsign Virgin Express |
| Founded | 1996 | <tr><th colspan="2">Hubs</th><td>Brussels Airport</td></tr>|
| Fleet size | 10 | |
| Destinations | 24 | |
| Headquarters | Zaventem (Brussels), Belgium | |
| Key people | Neil Burrows (CEO); Etienne Davignon, chairman | |
| Website: http://www.virginexpress.com/ | ||
Image:B737-Virgin Express-2002.06.18.jpg Virgin Express is an airline which was created within the Virgin Group. It operates mainly flights to southern Europe from their hub at Brussels Zaventem (Brussels National). Ticket sales are mainly through the Internet, but unlike many other low-fares airlines, Virgin Express does offer connecting flights.[verification needed]
Contents |
[edit] History
Virgin Express began its life on 23 April 1996, when the Virgin Group (with chairman Richard Branson) bought the Belgian leisure airline EBA (EuroBelgian Airlines) and rebranded it into Virgin Express.<ref>Company profile virgin-express.com</ref> It also took over EBA's fleet of Boeing 737's and is operating this type of aircraft ever since. The airline soon concentrated on low-budget scheduled flights out of its Brussels hub and became a major competitor for Sabena and later SN Brussels Airlines. In October 2004, the Virgin Group sold its assets to SN Brussels Airlines and both airlines were integrated into the parent holding company SN Airholding. On 31 March 2006, SN Brussels Airlines and Virgin Express announced their fusion into a single company. The name of this future airline is Brussels Airlines. The airline plans to become the main airline operating from Brussels International Airport, with a marketshare of 55% at Brussels. The combined airline will add long haul destinations and strengthen the position of the airline in Africa. SN Airholding won the bid to take over the virtually bankrupt Cameroon national airline, Cameroon Airlines.
[edit] New Routes
- It will be operating 38 additional weekly flights from Brussels to various destinations for the months of July & August 2006. The destinations that are getting additional flights are :
- Athens = 17 flights a week
- Barcelona = 23 flights a week
- Bari / Catania= 4 flights a week
- Faro = 7 flights a week
- Malaga = 25 flights a week
- Naples = 5 flights a week
- Nice = 26 flights a week
[edit] Fleet
The Virgin Express fleet consists of the following aircraft (as of August 2006) <ref>Flight International, 3-9 October 2006</ref>:
One 737-300 (OO-VEX) was fitted with winglets at the end of 2005.
[edit] External links
- Virgin Express
- Virgin Express Fleet Detail
- Virgin Express web page at Flightattitude.com
- Virgin Express Passenger Opinions
- virginbrand.com Unofficial blog of the Virgin Group
- Photos of Virgin Express aircraft
[edit] References
<references/>
| Airlines of Belgium | Image:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg |
|---|---|
| Abelag Aviation | Brussels Airlines | European Air Transport | Jetairfly | SN Brussels Airlines | TNT Airways | Thomas Cook Airlines (Belgium) | Virgin Express | VLM Airlines | |
| Virgin Group |
|---|
| Active | Brides | Cars | Cinemas | Cosmetics | Digital | Drinks | Electronics | Experience Days | Fuels | Jewellery | Mobile | Money | Credit Card | Unite (charity) | Vie | Vines | Vodka | Voucher | Wines | .net | V Festival - UK | V Festival - North America |
| Airlines, Flights & Travel |
| America | Atlantic | Balloon Flights | Blue | Pacific Blue | Polynesian Blue | Express | Galactic | Holidays | Limited Edition Hotels | Limobike | Limosines | Nigeria | Trains | Vacations | TheTrainLine | Blue Holidays |
| Publishing |
| Books | Comics | Interactive | Music | Play | Records | V2 Records | Artemis Records |
| Radio |
| Radio Free | Asia | ouï fm |
| Retail |
| Megastores | Spa | Ware |
| Richard Branson |
| Richard Branson | Richard Branson Business Ventures |
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