VS to focus on Business Class : BBC

[preiffer]

Full story here

Virgin Atlantic is launching a three-year drive to lure more business passengers onto its flights.
Sir Richard Branson's airline wants to increase the number of executives travelling on the carrier by at least 10% over the next year.

Additionally, Virgin has pledged to improve services for its premium economy and economy passengers....

(continues in article)

[mitchja]

There's a bit more detail on this VS Press Release

Regards

Thanks![y][^]:D

Cheers,
VS045

I find the comment about Dubai been second only to New York as the most popular long haul destination surprising! What am I missing out on?!?!?!?

As I have complained about on other threads, VS need to keep up with fare sales of competitors. My company has only recenly changed its policy and allows us business class on long haul and we can usually express a preference on what airline we travel with, but when virgin is twice the price of the next most convenient route we have a hard job to justify it, and a trip in UC remains an ellusive dream, and sadly so do all those miles and TP's [:(]

Great news!
Yeah, I knew Dubai was popular, but not that popular..!

Dean

Yeah I am too surprised on the Dubai thing...what's the sudden excitement all about? I'm sure Sarah will soon tell us...what is it now, 2 days?! [8D]

Looking forward to the TR!

[HighFlyer]

Yup, two days ...

Have no fear, will be providing full trip reports on both DXB flights as well as general info about Dubai and the Burj Al Arab

Im not surprised about DXB being so popular, there are a an awful lot of carriers servicing DXB and of course its the playground for the oil money, and a lot of development is going into the UAE, plus a lot of destinations like Dubai and Egypt have grown in poularity for vacations due to the close proximity to the UK, short flight times, and how shall i say, 'absence of typical Brit holidaymakers'. [:P]

Thanks,
Sarah

'absence of typical Brit holidaymakers'

But for how long?

The England football team has used it as a pre-tournament base (with associated newspaper coverage) for a while, access is increasing, more hotels are being built, everyone knows about the shopping. Doesn't it sound like the Costa del Sol was (and to an extent still is) 25 years ago?

I am getting into the idea of taking the family for a week or so next year (though Mrs csparker doesn't know yet) - really like the idea of Wild Wadi and Ski Dubai... Though I'm from Essex, I don't think I'm your typical Brit holidaymaker, so of I don't count as part of the tourist influx.

Yup, two days ...

Have no fear, will be providing full trip reports on both DXB flights as well as general info about Dubai and the Burj Al Arab

Im not surprised about DXB being so popular, there are a an awful lot of carriers servicing DXB and of course its the playground for the oil money, and a lot of development is going into the UAE, plus a lot of destinations like Dubai and Egypt have grown in poularity for vacations due to the close proximity to the UK, short flight times, and how shall i say, 'absence of typical Brit holidaymakers'.

I have to say i was reading an article in the Sun newspaper yesterday and it was on about the holiday companies showing old pictures of Dubai hotels. Then they showed what they really looked like now. Some of it is VERY spain-esc. Lots of highrise and a building mess. Kinda glad that i am not staying on the beach when i go in May.

Highflyer (and anyone else who fancies a crack) could i put a cheeky request of some side on shots of the PE seats as there doesn't seem to be any of the new (old new!) from the side, traveling in PE and am interested to see what the leg room is like. Been spoilt with the UCS too many times!

[HighFlyer]

Chris Ð Yes I see your point. I used to holiday in Egypt quite a bit, and I noticed the change compared from my first to last holiday with the increasing number of ÔunsavouryÕ pax. I guess that with the package holiday uptake of such destinations that it is bound to happen through offering such fab places and packages at very low prices.

Gelding Ð I will certainly try for you, although please note that this will be a 343 rather than a 346.

Thanks,
Sarah

Talking of Dubai's growing popularity, I've just brought the "Lonely Planets" guide and one of the first things it mentions is that they had 5 Million visitors in 2004 which is expected to rise to 15 Million by 2010 !

Dubai is a very popular route out of our usual summer season and is getting more popular with the celebs.

I think there is becoming even more competition on the route esp as emirates are now rolling out their first cabins with their ICE system on their 777s now as well.

Plus even post 9/11 it's one of the only scheduled route still served out of both LGW and LHR that I can think of.

Dubai used to be more of a transit stop for long-distance flights (in those days) but it then developed itself as a destination in its own right and now as EK has become a world class airline, it has become both a destination and transit point.

Cheers,
VS045

I wonder if there is anything for development of Manchester services in the 3 year plan.

[Scrooge]

I wonder what VS is going to do to attract more J pax?

Even with the new menu's the food IMHO just doesn't match up when compared to other (BA) J cabin food.

I hope they are going to imporove things for "bucket n spaders" who happen to be executives and entrepreneurs that are simply going on holiday and a break. It would be a shame if Virgin fell in to BA's trap of stuffy attitudes based on class of seat or destination. Some business people like to pay extra for upper just to go on a holiday route too.