Virgin Atlantic Airways today announced that it plans to create 300 new jobs over the remainder of the year - this is the first recruitment drive since the airline`s restructure in response to the events of 11 September. The need for additional staff is a result of an increase in services to popular destinations like Orlando, Lagos, Shanghai and New York and the introduction of the larger A340-600 aircraft due to enter service this summer.

The airline is looking to recruit around 300 new staff across the business particularly cabin crew, airport staff and reservations agents mainly based in the UK. Virgin Atlantic currently employs approximately 6800 staff worldwide. The process will begin by contacting staff who took unpaid leave last year. Advertising for vacant positions will start from this month.

Sir Richard Branson, chairman of Virgin Atlantic, commented;

“I am delighted to be able to announce this recruitment drive and to be able to offer our staff who took unpaid leave last year the opportunity to rejoin the company.

“This recruitment drive is an endorsement of our decisive action last September. We reacted more quickly than our rivals and as a result we quickly stabilised the company. We need to maintain our control of costs and grow revenues in all cabins but we are looking to the future with rising optimism. This summer will see us increase services around our network and also take delivery of new aircraft, hence the need to recruit.

“The airline can offer fantastic opportunities to all successful applicants - despite the challenges of these last few months we still aim to be the airline which people love to fly and where people love to work.”

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