2000-2005
Virgin Atlantic completes a £600 million deal with Singapore Airlines and also launches new routes to Las Vegas and Delhi.
Virginmoney.com, a financial services supermarket, is launched
Virgin Travelstore, an impartial travel agency, opens.
V.Shop, a new retail concept replacing the Our Price brand, begins trading.
Virgin Blue, an independent airline in Australia (which goes on to be the fastest-growing company in Virgin’s history) takes flight.
Virgin Student, a student community website and marketing agency, is launched.
Virgin Cars begins retailing online.
Virgin Wines is uncorked - raise your glasses…
Virgin Energy begins selling gas and electricity to UK homes
Virgin Mobile Australia launches
Virgin Active launches in South Africa, taking over the ailing Health and Racquet Club at Nelson Mandela’s request.
Virgin Trains unveils its first 140 mph tilting Pendolino train
Virgin sells its shareholding of the Virgin One business to the Royal Bank of Scotland while Virgin Direct merges with virginmoney.com to become Virgin Money. Different name, same focus on offering great value.
Virgin Ware steps in to the underwear market in the UK
Virgin Mobile makes its debut in Northern Ireland.
Virgin Atlantic launches its Heathrow to Lagos route.
Virgin Megastore welcomes its first Middle East customers while the Lagardere Group buys the French chain of shops
Virgin Experience (later to become Virgin Experience Days) launches, giving people to the chance to try their hand at everything from driving a Porsche through to scuba diving. And about a zillion things in between.
Virgin Money introduces the Virgin Credit Card in the UK.
Virgin Mobile arrives in the USA.
Virgin Megastores launches in Australia.
The Spanish branch of Virgin Interactive becomes Virgin Play.
The curtain comes down on Virgin Cinemas in Japan.
The Virgin Vie Spa Treatment Rooms (later known as Virgin Spa) open for business in Cape Town, South Africa.
Virgin Ware opens its flagship store and flashes its knickers to shoppers off of Carnaby Street in London.
Virgin Bikes begins trading as part of the Virgin Cars group.
Virgin Books publishes Richard Branson’s second book ‘Screw It Let’s Do It’.
Virgin Radio International goes live in Thailand with Virgin Hitz.
Virgin Credit Card launches in Australia.
Virgin Atlantic introduces the Upper Class Suite with fully flat beds and launches its Gatwick to Port Harcourt, Grenada and Tobago routes.
Virgin Cars starts up its multi-brand car retail showroom in Salford, England.
Virgin Interactive becomes Avalon Interactive.
Virgin Hotels sell the Heaven nightclub.
Virgin Pulse (later to become Virgin Electronics) launches in the US.
V.Shops merges with Virgin Megastores, rebranding as Virgin Megastores Xpress.
Virgin Digital is created to offer downloads and a subscription music service in the US.
Virgin Atlantic launches the Hong Kong to Sydney route route.
Virgin Active launches its first clubs in Italy.
A new incarnation of Virgin Games is born with Virgin Casino and Virgin Poker available online in the UK.
Virgin Galactic – the first commercial space tourism company – is launched.
Virgin Unite, Virgin’s non-profit foundation, is established.
The Virgin Blue group’s Pacific Blue takes its first flight between Christchurch and Brisbane.
Virgin Mobile launches in Canada.
Virgin Nigeria begins flying.
Virgin Digital, an online music store, launches in the UK.
The Virgin Atlantic Global Flyer successfully breaks round the world record.
Virgin Megastores launches a new music lifestyle store in Hollywood.
Virgin Cars ceases trading.
Virgin Games’ virtual Virgin Bingo launches.
Virgin Active expands into Spain and Portugal.
Virgin Electronics and Virgin Ware close their doors.
The Virgin Cosmetics Company begin their direct selling business in South Africa.
The Virgin Blue group’s Polynesian Blue launches its first flight from Auckland to Sydney.
Virgin Atlantic makes its inaugural Heathrow to Mumbai and Gatwick to Cuba and the Bahamas flights.
Richard Branson’s Moroccan property Kasbah Tamadot opens as part of the Virgin Limited Edition portfolio.
