Around the world in 8 days    (Sitegeist)

Virgin Atlantic president Sir Richard Branson has embarked on an eight-day journey around the world to mark the launch of V Australia, Virgin's newest airline. Abigail Parkin (2 Mar'09)

Sir Richard will travel on a London-Hong Kong-Sydney-Los Angeles-London sector in rather more comfort than Fogg's balloon which went around the world in 80 days. He plans to meet with local entrepreneurs en route and listen to how business are coping during the recession.

V Australia, which launched on 27th February, will initially fly between Sydney and Los Angeles, with services also planned between Brisbane and Los Angeles, and Melbourne and Los Angeles. Its launch means that passengers can book to travel on individual Virgin airlines on an around-the-world routing.

V Australia joins the ranks of Virgin airlines which includes Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Blue, Virgin America and Virgin Nigeria.

“Travelling around the world in 8 days is going to be a pretty tough quest but we’ll certainly be doing it faster than Phileas Fogg did in his balloon!" said Sir Richard. "The launch of V Australia joins up Sydney and LA, destinations currently served by Virgin Atlantic from London and it means consumers can travel on Virgin globally for the first time. It’s a unique moment in Virgin’s history.”

The jaunt also triggers the search for "best Richard look-a-like" as part of a global competition to celebrate Virgin Atlantic’s 25th birthday. Virgin invites candidates bearing an uncanny resemblance to its president to visit Virgin Atlantic’s Facebook page www.facebook.com/virginatlantic and simply upload their picture for a chance to win a unique prize.

The best look-a-like of the competition wins two Virgin Atlantic return tickets in Premium Economy and two VIP tickets to Virgin Atlantic’s exclusive 25th birthday party in June in New York.

RK  _________________________________________