Virgin Atlantic
Cashash - don't quote just part of a sentence...(are you Diane Abbott by any chance?)
It's Virgin Atlantic asking for a LOAN, we have paid Billions in tax over the years.
Get back in your box and try to understand how life and finances work
It's Virgin Atlantic asking for a LOAN, we have paid Billions in tax over the years.
Get back in your box and try to understand how life and finances work
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That would be perfectly true if he were not seeking assistance from the UK taxpayer - as it is it is every taxpayers business how their taxes are spent.
Perhaps if he were offering the UK Government a 25% share in the ownership of the airline I can see that would be more palatable.
Perhaps if he were offering the UK Government a 25% share in the ownership of the airline I can see that would be more palatable.
I totally agree with X-ray One.
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I'm perfectly clear how finance works thanks. If foreign companies need to raise finance then they usually go to the financial sector or sell existing stock or issue new stock. Branson want to keep his 51% control and not sell at firesale prices (understandably) - I dont see it is the role of the UK taxpayer to support his continued ownership especially as he is no longer resident in the country.
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but it’s not Richard Branson that he is borrowing a loan for, its Virgin Airlines The company that does pay taxes in the U.K. and it is a Loan did you understand that, a LOAN that will be repaid , imagine going to the bank and asking for a mortgage and them demanding 1/4 of your house for it..
I totally agree with X-ray One.
I totally agree with X-ray One.
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Hang on, how exactly are they going to repay this loan if/when there's no business to make money? In fact, they'll probably be pissing money away for years. How do they repay the lender?
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Best of luck to the guys and girls at Virgin, some of my earliest childhood aviation memories are of visiting the flightdeck on the old classic 747s on our way to the USA in the 80s and early 90s. I only have to hear Donald Fagen’s What a Beautiful World and I’m taken back to those times. Some of my ex colleagues and friends are there and deserve all the fortune that Lady Luck can smile on them. Despite what WW may think we at BA need Virgin to keep us honest. Hopefully there is a way, any way to keep what is a great British Airline afloat, God knows we’ve seen too many failures recently. Chin up chaps from one BA employee on the other side of the fence but very much in solidarity at this difficult time (we’re not immune from this either, despite what ideas people may have).
Radiosuctch
Read the whole piece - Virgin Atlantic and their employees. In my time at VA I have paid £700,000 in tax. We have over 1,000 pilots. Add to that another 9,000 Cabin Crew and ground staff. Stop asking stupid and ill informed questions you pathetic troll.
I seriously doubt the Virgin UK domiciled companies have paid 'Billions' in tax over the years. Do you have any evidence of this?
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Best of luck to the guys and girls at Virgin, some of my earliest childhood aviation memories are of visiting the flightdeck on the old classic 747s on our way to the USA in the 80s and early 90s. I only have to hear Donald Fagen’s What a Beautiful World and I’m taken back to those times. Some of my ex colleagues and friends are there and deserve all the fortune that Lady Luck can smile on them. Despite what WW may think we at BA need Virgin to keep us honest. Hopefully there is a way, any way to keep what is a great British Airline afloat, God knows we’ve seen too many failures recently. Chin up chaps from one BA employee on the other side of the fence but very much in solidarity at this difficult time (we’re not immune from this either, despite what ideas people may have).
If SRB/VAA management & Delta can negotiate a deal through the banks then there is hope that the airline will survive. But not in the format we see today! The airline has to become leaner and management will have to prove that they will take what ever action is necessary to get them on side. A few weeks ago the company retired the last of the A340-600's and have dropped operations at LGW and MAN, leaving LHR as the main base. So what else can they do to reduce costs! the obvious one is to retire the 744's & here lies a dilemma! make all the 400 pilots redundant or comply with the seniority list ? Further reductions in fleet size might also be needed so the A330-200 (4) is looking venerable. The plus side is Virgin operates a very modern fleet of 17 B787-9 and at present 4 A350-1000'S with 7 more expected in 2021 as well as up to 11 A330-Neo's on order (although these may well be in the balance). Will this swing things to preserve UK jobs at airbus is anyones guess.
These are unprecedented times, it is my hope that UK will see through all the bad press that "Richard" has received and recognise that the bloke is an innovator, fighter and most importantly a motivator. With out his vision 1000's of people around the globe would not have been able to provide for their families.
Stay safe.
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The problem is how Branson has constructed the company that has resulted in little cash and no assets for a rainy day, the article in today’s Telegraph gave some insight to this, the company has no assets, rented offices, rented aircraft and it also rents its name it also stated the landing slots are also borrowed against so can’t be used as an asset, the problem for the government is they also need to protect tax payers and in the event of a liquidation what money can be raised to repay the loan, total mess, easyJet raised 600 million but own a lot of aircraft so the loan was a easy transaction, BA own aircraft so can also raise money, seems virgin has maxed out the credit card before this crisis so no room for manoeuvre.
I sincerely hope that Virgin Atlantic survive and go on to thrive. I know many of you and have witnessed other companies collapse and would not wish that on anybody.
Perhaps the time has come for the British Government to buy (nationalise) Sir Richard Brandon's interest in the company thus fulfilling his sincere desire to see the company survive. If he wished to continue to participate he could, of course, be taken on as an employee.
Perhaps the time has come for the British Government to buy (nationalise) Sir Richard Brandon's interest in the company thus fulfilling his sincere desire to see the company survive. If he wished to continue to participate he could, of course, be taken on as an employee.
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Anyway, both you and I are entitled to our opinions and I don't intend changing mine about how these big corporates avoid taxes. But thanks for engaging.
PS - why do you have to be so nasty? You don't know me, you don't know I am stupid or ill informed. And as to being a troll, then please reread what I said above.
Have a nice day.
Out
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The problem is how Branson has constructed the company that has resulted in little cash and no assets for a rainy day, the article in today’s Telegraph gave some insight to this, the company has no assets, rented offices, rented aircraft and it also rents its name it also stated the landing slots are also borrowed against so can’t be used as an asset, the problem for the government is they also need to protect tax payers and in the event of a liquidation what money can be raised to repay the loan, total mess, easyJet raised 600 million but own a lot of aircraft so the loan was a easy transaction, BA own aircraft so can also raise money, seems virgin has maxed out the credit card before this crisis so no room for manoeuvre.
It's all coming home to roost.
Last edited by radiosutch; 21st Apr 2020 at 09:52.
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However it's not you who is asking for the loan, it's Virgin Atlantic as a company. We're looking at corporation tax that they (as a company) have contributed, which is minimal, as it's offshored as much as possible.
While I definitely don't want to see anybody out of a job, I just don't think the UK taxpayer should be giving Virgin Group and Delta Air Lines a bailout (nor a loan). If the company does go bankrupt down the line, the money is gone. Judging by the fact the airline has lost money consistently without the coronavirus crisis in play shows how likely the loan is to be paid back. If a commercial bank doesn't see this as a worthwhile opportunity, I don't see why the taxpayer should be the one to take the risks. I'm completely against privatizing profits, and socializing losses (or at least the risk aspect). If this was such a winning investment surely SRB would liquidate some of his assets, to invest the money, to recoup the profits from such a wise decision later?
Once again, this isn't an attack on you, nor any of the frontline employees. You do your best day in and day out and can't be held accountable for corporate decisions, and I don't like poor management hiding behind frontline staff as their defense barrier.
I do wish you and the rest of the Virgin Atlantic staff all the best, although this situation is absolutely nothing of your doing.
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Fully agree with MDS and touch&go post above. They're lacking assets and have been doing badly during the good times throwing money at Virgin Atlantic is a flawed strategy, especially taxpayers money which will likely never be seen again. I feel genuinely sorry for the employees it's bad enough dealing with this virus never mind facing redundancy. Personally I do not want to see any government financial assistance to Virgin Atlantic, it would be the wrong thing to do and is not in the UK taxpayers interest.