=20 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- This article was sent to you by someone who found it on SFGate. The original article can be found on SFGate.com here: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=3D/news/archive/2004/03/24/f= inancial1004EST0062.DTL --------------------------------------------------------------------- Wednesday, March 24, 2004 (AP) Virgin Atlantic expands with new routes and increased flight frequencies (03-24) 08:01 PST LONDON (AP) -- Virgin Atlantic said Wednesday it is opening new routes and increasing frequencies on existing destinations as part of an expansion that will add 1,400 new jobs at the airline. Richard Branson, head of the British-based airline, said that the new routes will include services to Havana, Cuba, and Nassau in the Bahamas starting in July 2005. The company has ordered two Airbus A340-600 aircraft to cope with the planned increased flights to destinations including the Caribbean islands of Grenada and Tobago and the U.S. cities of Las Vegas and Orlando. "Following the last recession Virgin Atlantic had annual double digit growth from 1993-2000 and we aim to match this level in the next few years," Branson said. "There are encouraging signs that the market, particularly the all-important business travel sector, is returning to health," he added. Branson said that recruitment for the new jobs, including 770 cockpit and cabin crew, will begin immediately. Virgin Atlantic currently has about 5,000 employees, the company said. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright 2004 AP