09/05/2025
I will
Be always grateful for Richard Brandsom
Inspiration
In 1984, people thought we were crazy to launch an airline. I had no idea how the aviation world worked, but I knew that flying was no fun. I went against everyone’s advice. Friends, experts, the press, the pundits – and on paper, they were right. But I was fed up with airlines being allowed to get away with sub-par service just because no real competition existed. I realised then that there was a gap to give passengers a great experience – and I love a challenge! Since we launched, there have been many occasions where people told me we’d fail. But we’ve stuck by our belief that if you can create something better than everybody else, then you at least have a chance of succeeding. Here are some of the aviation ‘firsts’ Virgin Atlantic has brought to the industry — thanks to a lot of hard work and imagination from the best team in the skies:
- First airline to introduce seat-back entertainment
- First airline to launch premium economy
- Built the first-ever in-flight bar
- Designed the first-ever double beds in the air
- Developed a feature called Earth Calling — an in-seat call service for passengers’ mobile phones
- Launched charity donations with loose change from foreign currencies (an idea my wonderful wife had)
- First airline to fly the Airbus A340-600
- First commercial airline to fly across the Atlantic using 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel
- First airline to introduce a gender identity policy which removed the requirement for our people to wear gendered uniform options
- First airline to allow crew to display tattoos and one of the first to remove compulsory make-up requirements for cabin crew
Virgin Atlantic is proof that you don’t need to stay in your lane. Keep thinking of ways to deliver the best possible experience for your customers and your people. Taking a human approach to innovation is how you stay ahead. You can find the full story in my audiobook, Losing and Finding my Virginity: https://linktr.ee/bransonaudiobook
