From the Brisbane Times.
Virgin sets its compass to Asia
In for the long haul ... but Virgin is still keeping mum. Photo: AFP
VIRGIN AUSTRALIA has signalled it will launch international routes to Asia within the next year following an improvement in its fledgling long-haul operations.
After shedding loss-making routes and forming alliances with airlines such as Singapore Airlines and Etihad to stem losses, Virgin's chief executive, John Borghetti, said he was keen to expand flights to international destinations.
"Our international business is no longer in the state it was when I started and as we consolidate that business … it will give us opportunity," he said.
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Mr Borghetti declined to reveal the routes Virgin would target but it is believed Asian destinations are high on the agenda.
"I don't believe the theory that says you can't make money internationally. The trick is having the right strategy and what we will never do is have a fragmented strategic approach to international," he said.
He also said that Virgin would be "staying on strategy" despite a looming price war with Qantas for lucrative business travellers.
Qantas's boss, Alan Joyce, has made clear he will aggressively defend its so-called "line in the sand" of a 65 per cent share of the domestic market by increasing capacity.
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Virgin sets its compass to Asia