PopGoesTheNews.com >> Richard Branson made another visit to Canada today – this time to promote Virgin America's new daily service between Toronto and both L.A. and San Francisco. The chair of Virgin Group, who only owns a minority stake in Virgin America, said he hopes to bring his international airline Virgin Atlantic back to Toronto within a year. The airline operated briefly between Pearson International and London's Gatwick prior to 9/11.Branson also vowed to expand Virgin Money – which offers insurance, credit cards and mortgages in Britain, Australia, the U.S. and South Africa – into the Canadian market.
The Virgin brand has grown in Canada since the launch of Virgin Mobile Canada (now wholly owned by Bell) several years ago. Astral Media operates Virgin Radio stations in Vancouver, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal and a Toronto-based company operates online property Virgin Gaming.
Branson, who turns 60 this year, said his Virgin Galactic is about 18 months away from launching into space.
Virgin America also flies out of Boston, New York, Washington, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, San Diego, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Seattle with plans to add flights to Mexico. The airline, which has a fleet of Airbus A320 jets, boasts flights with seat-back entertainment systems, on-demand snacks, mood lighting and onboard WiFi. The airline recorded a loss of $35.5 million in the first quarter of this year.
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