The new service will be called ‘Little Red’ http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/gb/en/the-virgin-experience/little-red.html
and will start with four daily return trips between Manchester and London.
Six daily services between the capital and Edinburgh are scheduled to begin on April and on April 9th the London to Aberdeen route – with three daily flights to the Granite City, will be launched.
The launch follows Virgin’s distaste at British Airways’ acquisition of domestic airline, bmi, in late 2011.
Sir Richard said: ‘Virgin Atlantic has been on an incredible journey since we started with a single plane 29 years ago. Little Red represents the next step on that journey as we go head to head with BA to provide domestic flights that deliver our rock-and-roll spirit as well as real value for money.’
The enterprise should give flyers more choice when it comes to booking holidays and trips around the country. Commuters could benefit too as train fares rise to rival flights.
The four Manchester routes include an additional return journey to the three that were initially announced by Virgin.
With a smaller aircraft than usual - such as the Airbus A320 - and the name 'Little Red,' the service mirrors the formerly-titled 'Virgin Blue' internal routes that are offered in Australia, now renamed 'Virgin Australia.'
