'Virgin can make US$10m profit' By Curtis Rampersad, Trinidad Express 05.07.03 British billionaire Sir Richard Branson says his Virgin Atlantic flight service from London to Tobago has the potential to generate an annual profit of US$10 million, even in the face of troubled times for the aviation industry. The new route, which also services Grenada, makes Virgin Atlantic the largest operator of Caribbean flights, Branson said, and means a projected annual economic benefit to Tobago and Grenada of more than US$7.5 million in increased jobs, trade and tourism. Virgin Atlantic, which also operates a service to Barbados, launched its direct weekly service between London to Tobago on Monday, using a 422-seat Boeing 747-400 aircraft as part of a 50 per cent increase in capacity for the Caribbean by winter of this year. As chairman of Virgin Atlantic, Branson said he was confident that Tobago was a niche in the United Kingdom market. As a result, the carrier?which declared a £10 million sterling annual profit?will serve the route all year long. Virgin Atlantic also expects to fly around 9,000 passengers to Tobago and Grenada this year who will spend an estimated £1,100 sterling each there. Speaking with reporters at the Hilton Tobago at Lowlands less than two hours after the flight landed at Crown Point Airport, Branson said he was anxious to provide a competitive service to Tobago. Asked about the establishment of a regional airline, Branson suggested that it should not be operated by Caribbean governments. He said he had written to regional government leaders offering assistance in the creation of a new airline. He also commented on the position of cash-strapped national airline BWIA. Noting that BWIA had had its difficulties, Branson admitted that he liked BWIA's operations and its friendly staff. While he said Virgin Atlantic would not normally get involved in an already-established company, Branson explained that if asked by the Government, "we would certainly talk to them about BWIA if there was a way for co-operation". *************************************************** The owner of Roger's Trinbago Site/TnTisland.com Roj (Roger James) escape email mailto:ejames@xxxxxxxxx Trinbago site: www.tntisland.com Carib Brass Ctn site www.tntisland.com/caribbeanbrassconnection/ Steel Expressions www.mts.net/~ejames/se/ Site of the Week: http://www.cso.gov.tt TnT Webdirectory: http://search.co.tt *********************************************************