The Hindu Business Line : Richard Branson to visit Mumbai

COME April 1 and Mumbai city will rock with none other than Sir Richard Branson, the Chairman of Virgin Atlantic Airways (VAA). Sir Richard, who will be on a two-day maiden official visit to Mumbai, will host a party to commemorate the launch of VAA flights to the port city.

"The party will send out the message that not only is spring here but so is Richard," sources said. The Virgin chief is likely to be accompanied by some VVIPs and possibly a few senior officials of the airline on the inaugural flight.

The visit, which begins on March 31 and goes on till the wee hours of April 2, is primarily aimed at meeting with the travel industry and corporate account people who frequently use the airline. The Virgin boss is unlikely to visit the national Capital during the visit.

There is unlikely to be the kind of hype that surrounded the launch of Virgin's operations to India in 2000 and the visit of Sir Richard. At that time not only did the Virgin chief dress Indian, do the bhangra but also rode on an elephant to an event.

The airline, has however, already started advertising the new flight and its trademark red colours are visible in Mumbai, sources said.

When contacted, VAA officials in India refused to speak on the forthcoming visit, apart from saying that the airline will begin a thrice-a-week service between Mumbai and London by the month-end.

At the moment, Virgin operates a daily flight on the Delhi-London route.

Incidentally, this will be the second visit of Sir Richard to India in less than six months. In November last year, the Virgin chief was in Delhi to participate in a charity ball. He had shown an interest in investing in the domestic airlines and mobile sectors.

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