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    Virgin Atlantic turns 38: Richard Branson is over the moon, posts a video to celebrate

    Synopsis

    Branson shared a 24-second-long video that showed memorable videos and pictures from 1984.

    ​Richard Branson thanks everyone for keeping Virgin Atlantic ​in the skies all of these years.​Agencies
    Richard Branson thanks everyone for keeping Virgin Atlantic in the skies all of these years.
    Billionaire Richard Branson is celebrating Virgin Atlantic's 38th birthday.

    In a special post on social media, the overjoyed billionaire thanked everyone who has kept the airline in the skies all of these years. "Happy Birthday Virgin Atlantic! 38 years young. Time flies at 30,000ft," wrote in his post.

    The 24-second-long video shows memorable videos and pictures from 1984 when Branson launched the airline. In the video, the 71-year-old could be seen popping a bottle of Champagne, learning the control in the cockpit and posing in a pilot uniform.

    On June 22, 1984, the airline's first flight – VS1 – departed from Gatwick to Newark.

    Sharing the same video on social media, the airline's official handle shared that the businessman launched Virgin Atlantic 38 years ago with one 747. All he had was an 'ambition to shake up the airline industry'. "The rest, as they say, is history," the post read.

    Captain Chris Pohl, who has been with Virgin for 28 years, also took to the comments section to congratulate Branson. He said he was 'privileged and proud’ to be a part of the airline, who joined with an introduction to the A340 en route Hong Kong route. He also thanked the billionaire for keeping them employed during the pandemic.

    "Time certainly does fly," he wrote in his comment.
    Captain ChrisAgencies

    The pilot, who began his flying career at 18 and calls himself the 'Aviation Ambassador', is one of the most senior captains who trains the airline's young pilots to fly the Airbus A330 and the Airbus A350.

    Last month, the British airline decided to relax its tattoo restrictions ahead of a fresh recruitment drive for cabin crew. Virgin dropped the requirement for uniformed and front line staff to cover up inkings with long-sleeved shirts, plasters or make-up.

    A traditionally glamorous role, flight attendants have always been expected to look well-groomed, with most airlines setting strict dress requirements for staff.

    "Many people use tattoos to express their unique identities and our customer-facing and uniformed colleagues should not be excluded from doing so if they choose," Virgin Atlantic's Chief People Officer Estelle Hollingsworth said in a statement.

    However, neck, face and head tattoos must still be covered, although it was currently reviewing that policy. Offensive tattoos are also required to be covered up.

    In 2019, Virgin dropped a requirement for female cabin crew to wear makeup.

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