UK. Virgin Atlantic Airways announced plans to recruit 1,500 staff and says it is adding new routes to Cuba, the Bahamas, Jamaica and Dubai.
Around 1,100 cabin crew will be hired, together with flight deck staff, engineers and office employees.
The announcement was made by Virgin Atlantic chairman Sir Richard Branson at London Gatwick Airport before the airline’s inaugural flight to Cuba and the Bahamas.
“At a time when the airline industry is up against high oil prices, with many struggling to survive, Virgin Atlantic added services to Sydney in December last year, Mumbai in March this year, Havana and Nassau this summer and will launch a Manchester to Barbados service later this year,” he said.
The new services to Cuba will operate twice weekly between Gatwick and Havana from 7 July.
The company also intends to launch services to Jamaica and Dubai next year. Virgin Atlantic’s fleet is also due to expand, with seven A340-600 aircraft entering service by the end of 2006.
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