The 00s: A new decade in a new century.
2000: Virgin Mobile's partner One2One won one of the new 3G mobile phone licences for enhanced technology wireless telephony services. This gave Virgin potential access to this valuable new mobile infrastructure. By November 2000, we'd grown to over 500,000 customers and won Network of the Year from Mobile Choice Magazine.The Virgin Rail Group bid for the East Coast Mainline, competing against existing operator GNER. The first new tilting trains and diesel trains for the West Coast and Cross Country franchises rolled off the production line.Virgin Management Asia was formed – one of its first deals was a billion dollar joint venture agreement with Singtel to set up mobile phone operations throughout Asia.Virgin launched a series of new businesses including Virgin Cars, Virgin Wines, Virgin Student, Virgin Money.com, Virgin Energy and Virgin Travelstore.com.Virgin Atlantic's £600m joint venture deal with Singapore Airlines completed in April. The expansion of the business continued with the launch of routes to Las Vegas and Dehli. The airline's new flat sleeper bed went into service for the first time in Upper Class.V.shop, a new retail concept set up to replace the Our Price brand acquired from WHSmith in 1998 was launched. Between September and November over 100 shops were converted, making it the fastest retail roll out in history.Virgin Blue, the low cost airline in Australia, launched with flights operating between Brisbane and Sydney.NTL signed an agreement to buy Virgin Net's ISP business for around £90m in cash and shares.Virgin bought a stake in Lynx New Media, a venture capital fund set up with Bear Stearns to invest in new media and technology start ups.
2001: Virgin Mobile reached 1,000,000 customers, making it the fastest-growing mobile start-up ever seen in the UK, and among the top performers ever in the world. They then launched a new service in Northern Ireland.Virgin Megastores opened a new store in Tokyo, making that 33 Japanese stores. Virgin Megastores also opened its first Middle East Megastore in Beirut, operated by a franchise with the Murr TV Group. The 20,000 sqft Megastores was built inside a restored historic cinema in the center of Beirut, and became the flagship store for Virgin in the Middle East. Virgin Megastores opened its door to the first Megastore in Dubai in October.Virgin Bikes launched.Sprint and Virgin announce new joint venture to offer pay-as-you-go wireless communications services and phones to the U.S. market under the Virgin Mobile brand.Virgin Active raised £100 million to enable them to become the world's fourth largest health and fitness group. The financing was used to roll out of 17 health and fitness clubs throughout the UK and South Africa.Virgin Atlantic launched a new route to Nigeria.Virgin Entertainment Group, sold its French Megastores business to Lagardére Media. The deal allowed Lagardére Media to operate the 16 Virgin Megastores under the Virgin brand. Lagardére gives Virgin the rights to sell mobile phones in its outlets in France.Virgin Mobile expands its business to Singapore. Under the terms of the agreement, Singapore Telecom will take a 50% stake in Virgin Mobile (Asia) PTE Limited.AMP and Virgin combine Virgin Direct and Virginmoney under a single Virgin Money brand. Virgin sells its share of the Virgin One business to the Royal Bank of Scotland.Virgin Trains delivers its first Pendolino 140 mph tilting train at Alsthom Factory in Birmingham. New Voyager 125mph diesel trains go into service on the Cross Country rail network.Virgin Blue continues to expand following the collapse of Ansett, and Virgin Express expands following the collapse of Sabena Airlines.Virgin Atlantic restructures following the tragic September 11 attacks in New York.
2002: Virgin Atlantic finalised a deal with Airbus to become the launch customer for the A340-600 – its inaugural flight took place on August 1 to New York.Virgin Blue reached 5 million customers!Patrick Corporation signed an agreement to acquire a 50% shareholding in Virgin Blue, as a cost of $260m.Virgin Express became the largest passenger carrier from Brussels to European destinations.Virgin Money launched a new credit card company.Virgin Rail replaces every train in its Cross Country franchise with new 125 mph rolling stock.
2003: Virgin Atlantic launched a twice-weekly service between London Gatwick and Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Virgin Atlantic also increased its destinations to 22 by introducing flights between Gatwick and Tobago and Grenada.Virgin Atlantic operated a first aid relief flight to Basra.Virgin Atlantic introduced its revolutionary new Upper Class 'Suite', the longest and most comfortable flat bed and seat in the airline industry.Virgin Cars opens the first ever vehicle department store in Manchester.Virgin Trains runs first "Pendolino" tilting train on the West Coast Main Line with passengers onboard.Richard Branson bought Makepeace in Queensland Island. His main reason for buying it was for staff to celebrate the success of Virgin companies around the world.Virgin Blue's Initial Public Offering (IPO) has closed more than 10 times oversubscribed. The final price for the offering has been set at $2.25 per share.Virgin Money launched a credit card company in Australia.Virgin Pulse, a line of 'lifestyle electronics', launched in the US with 15 consumer electronic products.
2004: Virgin Atlantic announced new routes to the Bahamas and Cuba.Virgin Blue flies 20 million guests!Virgin Mobile attracts 4 million customers!Virgin Atlantic celebrate it's 20th Birthday.The launch of Virgin Digital is announced offering; Digital downloads, Subscription music club, Digital radio and complete media management.The Launch of Virgin Nigeria is announced.Virgin.net launches £17.99 broadband.Virgin announces the launch of Virgin Galactic, to undertake the challenge of developing space tourism for everybody.Virgin Atlantic launches the Hong Kong to Sydney route.Virgin Atlantic offers upper class passengers suit-er dreams with double suites onboard.Ntl acquires the remaining 51% of Virgin.net to become the sole owner.Virgin Blue launches new Fiji flights.Virgin Atlantic announces $5.5billion order for 26 Airbus A340-600's.Virgin Money win four top awards at the Your-Money Directs Awards 2004.The first passengers travel all the way between London & Glasgow onboard Virgin's new £11million Pendolino train.
2005: The year so far....Virgin Mobile launched in CanadaThe Virgin Atlantic Globalflyer successfully took off for round-the-world record attempt.V Festival line up includes; Scissor Sisters, Franz Ferdinand, Chemical Brother's, and the Prodigy, with many more.Virgin Atlantic introduced Sunday Roast for their passengers.Virgin Atlantic introduced increased services to Shanghai and new services to Beijing.Virgin Atlantic celebrated the reveal of the A380 and promises that it's superjumbos will not just be bigger but better than other aircraft.Virgin Blue launched the world's first permanent sale 7 days a wekk 'Happy Hour' innovation with fares from just $1!Virgin Atlantic introduces state of the art self service check in for all passengers.
