VIRGIN USA LAUNCHES NEW ONLINE PRIVATE AVIATION MARKETPLACE


NEW YORK -- (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Virgin USA, the North American headquarters of Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group, announced today the launch of Virgin Charter, a new online marketplace that brings convenience and efficiency to private aviation.

Virgin Charter is a full-service marketplace that brings together buyers who want to book private air travel with safety-rated charter operators. Through Virgin Charter, sellers make their inventory available to a large customer base without changing the way they currently do business, and buyers search for available aircraft, negotiate pricing, purchase private air travel, and manage their entire trip online. Virgin Charter does not own or operate aircraft, and it does not act as a broker.

The Virgin Charter team is led by founder and CEO Scott Duffy, a seasoned Internet executive and private aviation veteran who served as a managing director for one of the largest charter brokers of private aircraft in the world. The team also includes technology and aviation executives from Google, Expedia, eBay and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). Said Duffy, "Virgin Charter's centralized marketplace will revolutionize private aviation by providing tremendous efficiencies to what has been a highly fragmented industry."

"The Virgin Group has a long track record in building businesses that offer brilliant customer service and product innovation," said Virgin USA CEO Frances Farrow. "We believe that Virgin Charter's success will also mean success for charter operators and flyers."

"From the time I met the Virgin Charter team, providing the highest standards for safety and quality has been their number one priority," said Jim Betlyon, CEO of Wyvern and CharterX. "We are pleased to be partnering with a firm that goes beyond lip service to bring unprecedented innovation to private aviation."

"We're really excited about Virgin Charter's potential in the market," said Sir Richard Branson. "Buckle up and prepare for a lot more exciting news from this impressive team of technology and aviation experts." The company has released a private invitation-only beta and plans to launch its public marketplace later this year.

About Virgin USA

Virgin (www.virgin.com) is one of the world's most recognized and respected brands. Virgin USA oversees and is responsible for the expansion of the Virgin brand in North America, blasting into markets where the customer is underserved, offering value for money, good quality, innovation, exceptional customer service, fun and a sense of competitive challenge. Existing businesses include Virgin Atlantic Airways, the award-winning transatlantic airline; Virgin Mobile USA, the leading wireless youth network; Virgin Megastores, the groundbreaking music stores; and Virgin Comics, an entertainment and media company creating original stories and epic myths for worldwide audiences. Building upon the success of these businesses, Virgin USA continues to look for opportunities in North America where it can offer something better, fresher and more valuable to consumers.

About Virgin Charter

Virgin Charter (www.virgincharter.com) is an online marketplace that brings together private aviation buyers and sellers. Virgin Charter brings unprecedented efficiency, transparency and convenience to the industry. The company is privately held and headquartered in Santa Monica, Calif.