Virgin Express

Infobox_Airline
airline=Virgin Express
logo=Virginexpress logo.pnglogo_size=220
fleet_size=10
destinations=24
IATA=SN
ICAO=VEX
callsign=Virgin Express
parent=SN Airholding
founded=1996
headquarters=Zaventem (Brussels), Belgium
key_people=Neil Burrows (CEO); Etienne Davignon, chairman
hubs=Brussels Airport
website= [http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.virginexpress.com/ virginexpress.com]

Virgin Express was an airline which was created within the Virgin Group. It operated flights mainly to southern Europe from its hub at Brussels Airport. Ticket sales were mainly through the Internet. The airline has merged with SN Brussels Airlines to form Brussels Airlines which started operations on 25 March 2007 [Airliner World January 2007]

History

Virgin Express started on 23 April 1996, when the Virgin Group (with chairman Richard Branson) bought the Belgian leisure airline EBA (EuroBelgian Airlines) and rebranded it into Virgin Express. [ [http://www.virgin-express.com/en/tools/aboutus/companyprofile/ Company profile] virgin-express.com] It also took over EBA's fleet of Boeing 737's and has operated this type of aircraft ever since. The airline soon concentrated on low-budget scheduled flights out of its Brussels hub and became a major competitor for Sabena and later SN Brussels Airlines. In October 2004, the Virgin Group sold its assets to SN Brussels Airlines and both airlines were integrated into the parent holding company SN Airholding. On 31 March 2006, SN Brussels Airlines and Virgin Express announced their fusion into a single company, named Brussels Airlines. The combined airline added long haul destinations and strengthened its position in Africa. SN Airholding won the bid to take over the virtually bankrupt Cameroon national airline, Cameroon Airlines. Fact|date=February 2007

Fleet

The Virgin Express fleet consisted of the following aircraft (as of August 2006) [Flight International, 3-9 October 2006] :

*5 Boeing 737-300
*5 Boeing 737-400

Three Boeing 737-300 (OO-VEX, OO-VEG and OO-VEH) were fitted with winglets (March 2007).All the aircraft of Virgin Express have been painted in Brussels Airlines colours.

Destinations

At time of closure

Destinations at time of closure included: [ [http://web.archive.org/web/20070112145901/http://virginexpress.com/ Home Page] on January 12, 2007, "Virgin Express"]
* Belgium
** Brussels (Brussels International Airport) Hub
* Denmark
** Copenhagen (Copenhagen Airport)
* France
** Marseille (Marseille Provence Airport)
** Nice (Côte d'Azur International Airport)
* Germany
** Berlin (Berlin-Schönefeld International Airport)
** Hamburg (Hamburg Airport)
** Munich (Munich Airport)
* Greece
** Athens (Athens International Airport)
* Italy
** Bari (Bari International Airport)
** Catania (Catania-Fontanarossa Airport)
** Milan/Bergamo (Orio al Serio Airport)
** Naples (Naples International Airport)
** Palermo (Palermo International Airport)
** Rome (Leonardo da Vinci International Airport)
* Portugal
** Faro (Faro Airport)
** Lisbon (Portela Airport)
* Spain
** Barcelona (El Prat International Airport)
** Madrid (Barajas International Airport)
** Málaga (Málaga Airport)
** Murcia (Murcia-San Javier Airport)
** Palma de Mallorca (Son Sant Joan Airport)
** Valencia (Valencia Airport)
* Switzerland
** Geneva (Geneva Cointrin International Airport)

Prior to closure

Destinations prior to closure include:
* France
** Toulon [" [http://web.archive.org/web/20060101022427/www.virgin-express.com/destinations.html Destinations] " of January 1, 2006, "Virgin Express"]
* Republic of Ireland
** Shannon (Shannon Airport) [http://www.earthian.info/earthian/aviation/RouteMaps/images/maps/Europe/VirginExpress.2000.gifRoute Map] of 2000, "Virgin Express"] " [http://web.archive.org/web/19991013112409/http://virgin-express.com/new/destinations.asp Destinations] " of October 13, 1999, "Virgin Express"]
* Italy
** Milan (Linate Airport) " [http://web.archive.org/web/20040607060837/www.virgin-express.com/destinations.html Destinations] " as of June 8, 2004, "Virgin Express"] (Services moved to Orio al Serio in Bergamo)
* Netherlands
** Amsterdam (Schiphol Airport)
** Rotterdam (Rotterdam Airport)
* Sweden
** Gothenburg (Gothenburg-Landvetter Airport) [http://www.earthian.info/earthian/aviation/RouteMaps/images/maps/Europe/VirginExpress.2002.gifRoute Map] of 2002, "Virgin Express"]
** Stockholm (Stockholm-Arlanda Airport)
* United Kingdom
** London [" [http://web.archive.org/web/20010603192723/www.virgin-express.com/new/destinations.asp Destinations] " of June 03, 2001, "Virgin Express"]
*** London Gatwick Airport
*** London Heathrow Airport
*** London Stansted Airport

External links

* [http://web.archive.org/web/20070112145901/http://virginexpress.com/ Virgin Express web page at archive.org]
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20051120091453/www.virginexpress.com/corporate/generalinformation/fleet.html Fleet in 2005 November]
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20050424034142/http://www.planemad.net/Airline/BE/Virgin_Express_(TV_VEX)/Fleet.htm?show=all Virgin Express Fleet in 2005 April]
* [http://www.virginbrand.com virginbrand.com] Unofficial blog of the Virgin Group
* [http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?airlinesearch=Virgin%20Express&distinct_entry=true Photos of Virgin Express aircraft]

References