VIRGIN ATLANTIC BEGINS SERVICES TO LAS VEGAS

Today Virgin Atlantic Airways, began the first ever direct scheduled service between London and Las Vegas. Virgin Atlantic will operate a twice weekly service from Gatwick Airport to Las Vegas using a Boeing 747.

Sir Richard Branson, Chairman of Virgin Atlantic Airways, today celebrated the new route:

“I have achieved a long-held ambition of mine by landing in Las Vegas today and I am delighted to be able to offer the first direct scheduled service between London and Las Vegas. I’d like to thank the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority and McCarran Airport who have all helped turn this dream into reality.

“Las Vegas is a fantastic city full of excitement and entertainment – it’s a perfect match for Virgin! Las Vegas is Virgin’s tenth US gateway - we now offer over 100 flights per week to the US and it is also our nineteenth destination worldwide.”

“Contrary to perception, Las Vegas is not just a tourist destination the city has one of the fastest growing commercial sectors in the US and we expect healthy traffic to London from Las Vegans previously denied a direct scheduled service.”

Commenting on the new Las Vegas route, Ron Simms, managing director of Virgin Holidays said:

“Virgin Holidays has offered a programme to the entertainment mecca Las Vegas since 1988 and seen it grow steadily over the years. The great thing about Las Vegas is that there is always something new and exciting so people constantly want to go back

“It is great news that Virgin Atlantic will be flying direct and we’re sure that the destination will be even more popular. This year we have even introduced skiing in Las Vegas at the beautiful ski and snowboard resort at Lee Canyon which is only 45 minutes drive away. With the amazing entertainment wonderland of Las Vegas on the doorstep this will prove ideal for the best in apres-ski!”

Rossi Ralenkotter, Vice President Marketing, Las Vegas Convention/Visitors Authority said:

“Today is a landmark for Las Vegas! We have been working with Virgin to secure this service since 1991. Sir Richard Branson recognised the potential of Las Vegas almost immediately, and it is the result of years of lobbying and hard work to secure the route.”

Harry Kassap, Administrator Air Service Development at McCarran International Airport, said:

“This is a significant milestone for McCarran International Airport and it is also the culmination of several years of hard work and we are delighted to welcome Sir Richard Branson and Virgin Atlantic Airways

Richard Branson made a personal commitment to make Las Vegas a Virgin Atlantic destination when the opportunity presented itself under the US-UK bilateral agreement”.

Note to Editors

Flight VS043 will depart Gatwick at 12:30 arriving at Las Vegas McCarran International Airport at 15:15 on Thursdays and Sundays from 8 June 2000. The return flight, VS044, departs Las Vegas at 18:05 on the same days and arrives at Gatwick at 11:55 the following days. The flight time is approximately ten and a half hours. Virgin Atlantic will operate a Boeing 747 aircraft which will be configured with 28 Upper Class seats, 36 Premium Economy and 358 in Economy. The opportunity to fly to Las Vegas was created by British Airways’ decision to cease its London – Pittsburgh services from this winter this created a spare British gateway for UK – US services.