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.
The Associated Press
