VIRGIN ATLANTIC SAYS “JUMBO ‘PANTS TO POVERTY’” IN AID OF COMIC RELIEF

Passengers travelling with Virgin Atlantic today will see some very strange sights but all in aid of Comic Relief. The most unusual will probably be a Virgin Atlantic 747 aircraft sporting a ‘jumbo’ pair of pants at Heathrow airport to raise awareness of Comic Relief whose theme for Red Nose Day 2001 is “Say Pants to Poverty.”

Virgin Atlantic’s airport staff have thought up many unusual fund-raising activities for Comic Relief with some members of staff at Gatwick sitting in a bath full of baked beans all morning! Passengers at Heathrow could be forgiven for thinking they are being served by the likes of the Spice Girls and Robbie Williams because Virgin Atlantic’s check-in agents will be dressed up as popstars for the day. Not to be outdone Virgin Atlantic cabin crew will also be collecting donations onboard today. The airline will ask passengers to donate any spare change at the end of their flight and expect to collect a large amount of money for Comic Relief through this activity.

Virgin Atlantic has also donated 100 lines at its Call Centre this evening between 6:30pm and 3am to ensure that everyone who wants to donate can get through. Over 125 Virgin Atlantic staff have volunteered to field the thousands of calls they expect to receive and everyone working in the Call Centre will have to wear pants over their clothes or be fined £1.

Anyone who wants to say ‘pants’ to the British weather can book travel with Virgin Atlantic and £1 from each ticket booked will go to Comic Relief.* This will ensure thousands of pounds will go to good causes.

Steve Ridgway, managing director of Virgin Atlantic, said:

“Comic Relief is a great opportunity for people to get involved in fund raising activities and I am proud that our staff have volunteered to say ‘pants to poverty’ in such great numbers whether it is answering the phones or sitting in a bath of baked beans.”

*Tickets must be booked and paid for by 10pm on 19 March for outbound travel between 01 May and 30 June 2001.

Comic Relief exists to tackle poverty and promote social justice in the UK and Africa. Since its launch in 1985, Comic Relief has raised over £174 million to help some of the poorest and most vulnerable people in the UK and Africa to help themselves.

For anyone who wants to donate money to Comic Relief the number to call is 08457 910910.