TWICE AS NICE! VIRGIN ATLANTIC OFFERS UPPER CLASS PASSENGERS SUITE-ER DREAMS WITH DOUBLE SUITES ONBOARD - 04 OCTOBER 2004

(Norwalk, CT) October 1, 2004 - Virgin Atlantic is delighted to announce the introduction of double suites for passengers traveling in the award winning Upper Class Suite. The airline has fitted four pairs of double suites onto two of its Boeing 747-400 aircraft, giving passengers traveling together two square metres of space so that they can enjoy their flight closer together.

Sir Richard Branson, Chairman of Virgin Atlantic, commented:

"We are delighted that Virgin Atlantic is the first airline to offer this unique service. It has been one of my long held ambitions to have double beds onboard our aircraft and now, once again, we are leading the way in product innovation onboard our aircraft.

"The award winning Upper Class Suite provides the passenger with by far the longest and most comfortable bed flying in the air today and now passengers can enjoy even 'suiter' dreams next to their loved ones!"

The double suites are located in the center of the lower deck in a herringbone configuration. Passengers can reserve a double suite, upon checking in for their flight at which point a Virgin Atlantic Upper Class agent will be able to book the double suites according to availability. These suites can remain separate until the passengers wish to go to sleep. A member of the cabin crew can unclip the middle partition transferring the space into a double suite. Alternatively, the partition can be removed at the beginning of the flight when the suite is in seat mode for passengers who wish to socialize until bedtime.

The Upper Class Suite is different to anything else flying today. The product has been designed to be not just the most comfortable bed in the air but also the most comfortable seat. Instead of a seat that extends into a bed, Virgin Atlantic’s seat provides the passenger with a luxury leather armchair to relax in which then flips over into a separate bed with a mattress to sleep on.

Since being launched in November 2003, the Upper Class Suite has won six of the industry’s most prestigious design awards, which are as follows:

D&AD AWARDS Yellow Pencil (Silver Award) Product Design

IDEA AWARDS IDEA Gold Award - Transport Design

FX AWARDS Best Leisure Furniture Award

DESIGN WEEK AWARDS Best Industrial Product Design

ID ANNUAL REVIEW AWARDS Best in Category - Furniture

RED DOT AWARDS Best of the Best of High Quality Design

Virgin Atlantic plans to introduce double suites onto all of its Heathrow Boeing 747-400 fleet.

About Virgin Atlantic

Virgin Atlantic is one of the world's most acclaimed carriers and was recently named "Best Transatlantic Airline, 2003" by readers of Travel Weekly. Virgin Atlantic Airways currently serves London from nine US Gateways: Boston, New York (JFK), Newark, Washington DC (Dulles), Miami, Orlando, Las Vegas, San Francisco and Los Angeles.

For further information please contact the Virgin Atlantic Press Office at 203-750-2570.