Virgin Atlantic Chairman Hails Great Success of Mauritius-London Route

The chairman of Virgin Atlantic (VA) the second most profitable airline company in the UK, Sir Richard Branson, Monday expressed satisfaction with the success of the Virgin service between Mauritius and London Heathrow airport in Britain with 25,000 passengers in six months.

Sir Richard who reached Mauritius late Monday evening to officially inaugurate the Mauritius-London route told the press at the Plaisance airport, 50km from the capital Port Louis, that the innovative on board VA service has proved to be a great hit with thousands of British holiday makers.

The airline, he noted, has already carried some 25 000 passengers since it started its operations 6 months back.

Branson added that following this great success, the company will explore the possibility of exploiting a daily flight.

Branson stressed that his main objective is to make VA a “Green Airline” and explained that everything is being done to reduce the impact of the planes on the environment and that his company is developing green fuels.

On his future investment plans in the island, Branson added that he is planning to invest in the production of high quality rum, in the hotel industry, noting that “Mauritius is the perfect country to do business with, because it is stable and nothing deters people from doing business here.”

He pointed out that his company will invest in the “Land -Based Oceanic Industry” which consists in exploiting deep sea water currents at 3km from the coast at Flic en Flac, 25km from Port Louis. The bottled water, he jokingly said will be called “Virgin Water”.

Xavier Luc Duval, the Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism who welcomed Branson at the airport to the sound of Sega drums and dances observed that with the arrival of VA to Mauritius, the country expects to increase the arrival of British tourists this year by some 35%.

Before leaving the airport, Branson left the imprint of his right hand in the sand. It will be used to make another imprint in glass.

Branson will Tuesday meet the Prime Minister Dr Navin Chandra Ramgoolam and the Minister of Industry, Satish Faugoo to discuss his investment objectives.

Source African Press Agency

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