Budget carrier Virgin Blue will make the troubled holiday island of Bali a priority destination when it begins a major expansion from Australian domestic routes into international services soon, Virgin boss Richard Branson said yesterday.
Branson said he wanted the carrier, which has carved out a strong niche in Australia's budget air travel market since it started two years ago, to help restore the Indonesian island's shattered tourist industry following last month's bomb attack.
"I think it is very sad to see that it is now empty of tourists and yet it is just as likely that a bomber could strike anywhere in the world," Branson told Sky News.
Bali has been a popular holiday destination with Australians for almost three decades.
But the tropical island's tourism industry has withered since a car bomb tore through a nightclub packed with foreign tourists on Oct. 12. Almost 90 Australians died in the attack, which killed more than 180 people.
Branson also said that after only two years of operation, Virgin Blue's revenues could top A$100 million (US$56 million) this year. He said the discount carrier would soon place an order for up to 40 new jets over the long term.
"There is still an awful long way to grow, not just internally within Australia, but we have pinpointed about 18 overseas destinations where airfares are very high where we can go as well," he said.
Virgin gained increased access to landing slots at Sydney airport last week, allowing it to expand the number of regional routes.
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