VIRGIN ATLANTIC NAMED COOLEST TRAVEL BRAND

Virgin Atlantic named only travel brand to make it onto the prestigious 2009/10 CoolBrands Top 20 list.

Virgin Atlantic, one of the world's leading airlines, was today revealed as a CoolBrand for 2009/10, by the Superbrands organisation.

Virgin Atlantic was the only travel company to feature in the Top 20, and was the clear winner of the Travel category. The Coolbrands list is a result of independent research, administered by The Centre for Brand Analysis, amongst influential opinion formers and the British public.

Steve Ridgway, chief executive of Virgin Atlantic, commented:

"We are delighted to be the only travel company featuring in the top 20 CoolBrands. It is testament to Virgin Atlantic’s continuing widespread and international appeal, and demonstrates that we are still red hot 25 years on."

This annual list reflects the combined opinions of an Expert Council and 2,458 members of the public, who selected Virgin Atlantic as one of this year's CoolBrands from an initial list of thousands. The criteria against which brands are judged include style, innovation, originality and desirability and against tough competition Virgin Atlantic has made it onto this definitive list of cool.

Stephen Cheliotis, Chairman of the CoolBrands council and Chief Executive of The Centre for Brand Analysis commented:

"Virgin Atlantic's inclusion on the CoolBrands List 2009/10 shows that it is the leading figure in its sector. Competition to be seen as one of the coolest brands in the UK is as fierce as ever and clearly Virgin Atlantic is delivering in the eyes of experts and the public."

Virgin Atlantic has recently won a host of awards and continues to innovate in and lead the airline industry.

For further information please contact the Virgin Atlantic Press Office on 01293 747373 or log onto www.virginatlantic.com