Virgin Atlantic Plans To Add To Its Fleet

Virgin Atlantic Airways and its no-frills affiliate, Virgin Express, are both in the market for new aircraft, a company spokesman said Wednesday.

Virgin spokesman Will Whitehorn confirmed a Wall Street Journal report that the airline is talking with U.S. plane makers Boeing Co. and McDonnell Douglas Corp. and Europe’s Airbus Industrie for new aircraft for Virgin Express.

The Wall Street Journal quoted Virgin Express Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Ornstein as saying, “clearly Boeing is the leading contender” for the $1.1 billion deal. No announcement is expected until next year.