1980-1989
Virgin Games is launched (later to become Virgin Interactive), releasing video games for classic systems such as the Amiga, the ZX Spectrum, the Amstrad CPC and the C64. 
Richard Branson courts the pink pound and buys Heaven in London – the superclub that brought gay clubbing in to the mainstream.
Virgin Atlantic Airways and Virgin Cargo are born. Virgin Atlantic’s inaugural flight is the Boeing 747-200 ‘Maiden Voyager’ from Gatwick to Newark on June 22. Richard and a whole host of friends, celebrities and media are aboard…
Virgin Holidays arrives. Not content with just getting people there in style, we wanted to keep them there in style. For around two weeks or so, anyway. 
Virgin Atlantic buys another Boeing 747 to launche its second route from Gatwick to Miami. 
The Virgin Airship and Balloon Company (later to become Virgin Balloon Flights) takes off. It becomes quite hard to keep Richard’s feet on the ground…
Virgin Records America is founded, quickly followed by a subsidiary in Japan.
Virgin Atlantic launches a route from Luton to Dublin which it flies until 1990.
Richard Branson launches Mates condoms in the UK to promote safe sex to young adults as awareness of HIV and AIDS grows. Manufacturer Ansell buys the company a year later.
Virgin Megastores opens new stores in Glasgow and Paris.
Virgin Hotels (later to become Virgin Limited Edition) launches an exclusive hotel range with the purchase of properties in Edinburgh, North Yorkshire and Hampshire.
Virgin Atlantic flies from Gatwick to New York JFK for the first time.
Virgin Atlantic launches its route to Tokyo.
