Branson mulls cheap airlines in India and China
Reuters
Branson mulls cheap airlines in India and China - paper
Sun 8 August, 2004 01:00 (UK)
LONDON (Reuters) - The entrepreneur at the helm of Virgin Atlantic Airways, Richard Branson, is negotiating the launch of low-cost airlines in India and China, the Sunday Express has reported.
The plan would follow similar moves in the United States and Nigeria, and comes after the success of no-frills airline Virgin Blue in Australia.
The head of the airlines-to-music empire was "very close" to closing a deal with an Indian airline and was in discussions with Chinese firms, a source close to Branson said, the newspaper reported.
Sources told the paper Branson had talked to India's Jet Airways, Air Sahara and Air Deccan.
"I am looking at India and China and we are very close to securing a partnership in one of those countries to launch a new domestic airline," the newspaper quoted Branson as saying. "We hope to have operations in both countries soon."
Virgin Atlantic was not immediately available for comment.
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