Virgin Atlantic returns to profitability, will invest in cabin improvements

Virgin Atlantic Airways (London) has announced a $162.9 million (100m pounds) investment in product development as it reported a strong year of trading and a return to profit. Despite the winter closure of London Heathrow and the Ash Cloud crisis costing the business a combined $65.2 million (40m pounds), strong growth in business traffic and solid load factors across all cabins delivered a good recovery.

On the airline’s routes between the US and the UK, which include five daily flights from New York to Heathrow, summer flights from Orlando to three UK airports, and service from eight other destinations, there was a very strong 21 percent growth in revenue.

The company reported a pre-tax operating profit of $30.1 million (18.5m pounds) for its fiscal year.

It is unclear how the current UK riots will affect future revenues and profits.

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