Comments on: Video: Branson attacks government, pays tribute to Virgin staff

By: Dave

Dave — Thu, 30 Apr 2020 10:31:53 +0000

In reply to Rod. Mr Branson also tried to a £500 million loan from the British government for his other airline Virgin Atlantic (of which he owns a small share %) but the government refused him.

By: John Phillips

John Phillips — Fri, 24 Apr 2020 03:08:56 +0000

Tricky Dickie at it again. Refuses to put up his own money, though.

Enough said.

By: douglas mcbride

douglas mcbride — Wed, 22 Apr 2020 05:58:31 +0000

funny thing is what i saw on facebook is Branson asked the british government for a bailout money & leave all staff retrenched without pay…also saw that VA pay no tax so no wonder our government won’t bail them out…

By: Doug Evans

Doug Evans — Wed, 22 Apr 2020 05:35:22 +0000

In reply to Craig. Let’s hope SQ is a major. part of the rescue package, preferably 100%.

By: Adam Thorn

Adam Thorn — Wed, 22 Apr 2020 05:09:21 +0000

In reply to Jack.

Hi Jack,

I think to even bring up the government, and Qantas, during something that was intended as a thank you to staff was very pointed. Whatever your views on the man, Branson is a shrewd media operator, and I think every word of that statement would have been meticulously well prepared. Always interested to hear people’s views though, and this is a topic I’ll be coming back to again soon.

Thanks,

Adam

By: Marum

Marum — Wed, 22 Apr 2020 03:35:56 +0000

QANTAS is one of the few national carriers which does not receive government assistance or subsidies. If my taxpayer dollar is going to go anywhere, I would rather it go to QANTAS.

A question. If the Government wants a two airline regime, why don’t they buy Virgin?

Regards….Marum.

By: Neil

Neil — Wed, 22 Apr 2020 00:09:36 +0000

Richard Branson if nothing else is economic with the truth. Anything that is Virgin branded will pay up to 10% of gross revenue to use the Virgin name. Looking back over VA Annual Reports he has taken over $200m in royalty payments even when VA was loosing money. What is really worrying is the “management” thought it was good value.
The same corporate thug is asking the UK Government for GBP981m to rescue Virgin Atlantic which is 50% owned by Delta Airlines of the USA at a time he is suing the British National Health Service for over GBP7m because they didn’t give health contracts to his related companies.
He has lost the plot and if son of VA is born it doesn’t need Branson in any way and sure doesn’t need to pay to use what now is a “tacky” name.

By: Jack

Jack — Tue, 21 Apr 2020 23:48:13 +0000

I think the title is a bit misleading. Branson didn’t ‘attack’ the Government, he just stated that Government support didn’t happen for Virgin in Australia… He wasn’t digging at Qantas either, he was just addressing their competitor AKA, Qantas. I think his message was very polite and was needed/well produced.

By: Red Cee

Red Cee — Tue, 21 Apr 2020 22:24:58 +0000

Etihad is part of a consortium wanting to buy Virgin. They obviously don’t like something about the current Virgin, as they don’t want to put in any money. Think about it.

By: Paul

Paul — Tue, 21 Apr 2020 21:59:18 +0000

Well Mr Branson you forget to mention the reasons why VA has gone into Administration. It was thru debt built up in the prior CEO management. Unable to service this mountain of debt. The govt has waived $700m in fees, provided $165m assistance to restart flights, chartered flights to bring people home so all your bluster is ill founded. It is not the governments job to pay off your company debts, that falls with the board of the airline as the board approved the borrowing.