Virgin to introduce R400m onboard improvements

VIRGIN Atlantic Airways is soon to launch its new onboard products which will cost in the region of US$50m (about R400m), according to Mackenzie Grant, Virgin's regional manager for India and Africa. While not prepared to reveal details, he said "our new product" includes onboard bars and new seating. "All our Airbus A340's will be fitted with the new seats by May 2002 and our Boeing 747's by October 2002.” He would not elaborate on the type of seats. Virgin's announcement comes soon after KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, British Airways and South African Airways introduced dramatic onboard improvements. Global airlines are increasingly using onboard technical enhancements as marketing tools to increase market share. In South Africa, they are using the products to attract as many passengers as possible that formerly flew with Alitalia, Austrian Airways, and Sabena. They stopped flying to SA at the end of March. (David Pincus)