Sir Richard Branson

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Bordeauxclaret
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Re: Sir Richard Branson

Post by Bordeauxclaret » Wed Apr 22, 2020 11:45 am

Jobs mainly both for Virgin Atlantic and the jobs that are created outside, I think someone mentioned there is an order in at the moment. If that goes it’d have a huge knock on effect.

I think we all know how slippery is he from his previous actions so any loan would be on commercial terms and would have to be water tight.
I’d even be tempted to ask him to “review” his tax status before anything is sent.

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Re: Sir Richard Branson

Post by TVC15 » Wed Apr 22, 2020 12:01 pm

Bordeauxclaret wrote:
Wed Apr 22, 2020 11:45 am
Jobs mainly both for Virgin Atlantic and the jobs that are created outside, I think someone mentioned there is an order in at the moment. If that goes it’d have a huge knock on effect.

I think we all know how slippery is he from his previous actions so any loan would be on commercial terms and would have to be water tight.
I’d even be tempted to ask him to “review” his tax status before anything is sent.
They are not a big player when it comes to orders and fleet as per someone else has posted.
There’s no way it can be watertight as the sector is in turmoil - it was a very tough / risky sector before the virus. It’s a lot riskier now. I’m guessing that’s why he is going cap in hand to the UK government as surely he would have approached their existing banks / backers.

I agree with your last sentence to an extent but that’s pretty much after the horse is bolted and they would only be doing this because they are desperate. It could be years / or possibly never before Virgin make any profit again so unless he agreed to pay previous tax he should have paid (which they won’t) it would be a worthless gesture.

If somebody can make a strong financial case that this is the best use of £500m of taxpayers money at the moment with everything else we will have to face then it could be worth doing - but I’m not sure how that would be possible with the very real prospect that they will go bust in the future.

Part of any investment case is something called Net Present Value....and at the moment I would be staggered if there were not less risky and far more worthy and viable ways to spend £500m. There will be many more companies in the UK that deserve this (or a share of it) where we could also protect jobs / supply chains and have a far better chance of getting our money repaid.

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Re: Sir Richard Branson

Post by Steve1956 » Wed Apr 22, 2020 12:19 pm

.....is a parasite.
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Re: Sir Richard Branson

Post by Claret Toni » Wed Apr 22, 2020 2:12 pm

Just a bit amused that for a £500M loan he offers an island he values at £80M, so I guess if the £500M wasn't repaid we'd be £420M light. Hmm.

...and not too sure about the valuation of the island - an island that he bought for US$180,000 and has been subject to hurricane and a devastating fire in recent years. In short who would pay £80M for it.

..and if we want to be a bit more serious, just how many NHS workers Income Tax contributions add up to £500M - that's the one's who haven't sadly paid the ultimate price.

Stick to what you do best Sir Richard (Knighthood for what), pick up a long legged blond and smile engagingly at the camera, then return to Necker and stay there; no hardship you love it. Fear not about British Airways monopoly, it there's a gap in the market, someone will recognise it and step in.

P.S. May have missed it in the news but have you volunteered to help out the NHS. True neither have I, but then again, unlike you, I haven't sued the NHS in the past.
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tiger76
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Re: Sir Richard Branson

Post by tiger76 » Wed Apr 22, 2020 2:22 pm

Claret Toni wrote:
Wed Apr 22, 2020 2:12 pm
Just a bit amused that for a £500M loan he offers an island he values at £80M, so I guess if the £500M wasn't repaid we'd be £420M light. Hmm.

...and not too sure about the valuation of the island - an island that he bought for US$180,000 and has been subject to hurricane and a devastating fire in recent years. In short who would pay £80M for it.

..and if we want to be a bit more serious, just how many NHS workers Income Tax contributions add up to £500M - that's the one's who haven't sadly paid the ultimate price.

Stick to what you do best Sir Richard (Knighthood for what), pick up a long legged blond and smile engagingly at the camera, then return to Necker and stay there; no hardship you love it. Fear not about British Airways monopoly, it there's a gap in the market, someone will recognise it and step in.

P.S. May have missed it in the news but have you volunteered to help out the NHS. True neither have I, but then again, unlike you, I haven't sued the NHS in the past.
I think this succinct and informative post sums it up.If Richard Branson is serious about a loan he'll need proper collateral,not some island in the Caribbean,which with a quick Google is losing value if anything.
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Re: Sir Richard Branson

Post by AlargeClaret » Wed Apr 22, 2020 2:27 pm

Tricky Dicky isn’t the only billionaire putting on his puppy dog eyes with cap in hand tbh , Though for someone whose thrown gazillions at his pet wet dream - “flights to the fecking moon” you can see why Beardys grovelling has gone down like one of his balloons .

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Re: Sir Richard Branson

Post by TVC15 » Wed Apr 22, 2020 2:40 pm

AlargeClaret wrote:
Wed Apr 22, 2020 2:27 pm
Tricky Dicky isn’t the only billionaire putting on his puppy dog eyes with cap in hand tbh , Though for someone whose thrown gazillions at his pet wet dream - “flights to the fecking moon” you can see why Beardys grovelling has gone down like one of his balloons .
Which other billionaire out of interest has gone to the government for a loan ?

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Re: Sir Richard Branson

Post by Paul Waine » Wed Apr 22, 2020 2:56 pm

Virgin Atlantic should not be bailed out by the British government/taxpayer:

1) Airline sector has always been "challenged" to make money. Does no one remember Thomas Cook - holiday company + airline - going bust? or Monarch - ditto? (Flybe was a "tiddler" so not relevant in the scheme of things).
2) Has no one noticed the competition between (a) the "established, flag carrier airlines" (b) the non-flag carrier long-time market entrants (VA is one of these) and the very new low cost entrants (Norwegian is among the latter)?
3) In 2008, while the bubble was still inflating ahead of the world financial crisis a number of airlines failed around the world. I think it was a BA/IAG boss who was quoted as saying he expected 40 airlines to file for bankruptcy in 2008/09. (I think the number turned out a little less, though please don't quote me - I've not researched/confirmed).
4) There's this thing about climate change - we are all supposed to be flying less, or at least until the world can fuel planes with a fuel with zero carbon emissions. And, the awareness and demands for actions to tackle climate change were building last year, before anyone had heard of covid-19.
5) Are we all going to be flying more, or less, once the covid-19 pandemic is sorted?

So, what do you think? Should the UK gov't lend money to an airline? Will we not be bailing out another "dead duck?"

You may say "but what about the jobs that will be lost?" Yes, there will be jobs lost. That's what happens, and should happen, when a business is trying to sell something that no one wants to buy any more. More jobs are lost by trying to keep a "zombie business" alive, then by letting the markets (and nature, if you like) take it's course. There will always be new jobs and more new jobs, the sooner, the "zombies" are let go.

I'm sure the former billionaire, Richard Branson, understands this very well.

PS: I wonder if The Times/Sunday Times is doing their "rich list" again this year. I think it was published around April/Mat last year.
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Steve1956
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Re: Sir Richard Branson

Post by Steve1956 » Wed Apr 22, 2020 3:56 pm

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Re: Sir Richard Branson

Post by evensteadiereddie » Wed Apr 22, 2020 6:11 pm

If only he'd donated to the Tories.
Missed a trick there, Richard.

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Re: Sir Richard Branson

Post by keith1879 » Sat Apr 25, 2020 3:50 pm

evensteadiereddie wrote:
Wed Apr 22, 2020 6:11 pm
If only he'd donated to the Tories.
Missed a trick there, Richard.
Fake news from Facebook.....but quite amusing I think.

BRANSON OFFERED BAILOUT!....

Sir Richard Branson has warned that airline Virgin Atlantic needs government support to survive.

In response the Treasury have offered him back ‘every single penny that he has paid in UK tax for the past 14 years.’

Chancellor Rishi Sunak described it as an ‘unprecedented offer’ but said that he cannot extend it to others as ‘to do so would cost the government money they can ill afford’.

Asked how much the offer to Branson would cost the UK taxpayer, Mr Sunak said he hasn’t yet calculated it exactly but believes it to be ‘in the region of **** all.’
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tiger76
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Re: Sir Richard Branson

Post by tiger76 » Sun Apr 26, 2020 12:03 pm

The UK government better not bail him out,if they do they won't get my vote at the next election.

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-52431290

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Re: Sir Richard Branson

Post by tiger76 » Wed Apr 29, 2020 1:17 pm

Hmm! hardly an empathetic denial by Raab here,i'd tread carefully if i was this government,bailing out tax dodgers won't go down well with many of their new voters,they'd be well advised to bear this in mind.

No state support for tax haven firms, urges Labour MP

"We should be bailing out the 99% not the 1%," says Labour's Zarah Sultana.

She urges the government to ensure state support does not go to companies based in tax havens or those who continue to pay dividends.

Dominic Raab replies that the government is helping both small and big businesses.

"We should take the partisan baggage out of this," he says adding that business would "create the growth which will drive us through this crisis".

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Re: Sir Richard Branson

Post by Paul Waine » Wed Apr 29, 2020 1:33 pm

tiger76 wrote:
Wed Apr 29, 2020 1:17 pm
Hmm! hardly an empathetic denial by Raab here,i'd tread carefully if i was this government,bailing out tax dodgers won't go down well with many of their new voters,they'd be well advised to bear this in mind.

No state support for tax haven firms, urges Labour MP

"We should be bailing out the 99% not the 1%," says Labour's Zarah Sultana.

She urges the government to ensure state support does not go to companies based in tax havens or those who continue to pay dividends.

Dominic Raab replies that the government is helping both small and big businesses.

"We should take the partisan baggage out of this," he says adding that business would "create the growth which will drive us through this crisis".
Pretty meaningless request, I'm afraid. Was the Labour MP in Westminster for PM's QT? or dialling in over the internet with computer and other equipment provided by Microsoft (software), Chinese laptop/mobile manufacturer? Apple? etc etc etc?

Which of the country's car manufacturers are up for "bail outs?" or, steel companies? or food suppliers?

And, as for "those who continue to pay dividends" - does she want to finish off every private pension?

We should be looking at how many people firms employ in the UK and the tax that is paid on employing these people - both income tax and employer's NIC. We should be looking at the VAT that is paid on buying the goods these firms produce and sell.

Given the current situation, with a few exceptions, firms will be raking up losses, so they won't be paying corporation tax this year, next year and maybe not for many years into the future.
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Re: Sir Richard Branson

Post by boatshed bill » Wed Apr 29, 2020 4:48 pm

Bale out a billionaire who tried to sue the NHS? Don't think so.

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Re: Sir Richard Branson

Post by randomclaret2 » Wed Apr 29, 2020 4:56 pm

Which party gave Branson his Knighthood ?

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Re: Sir Richard Branson

Post by mikeS » Wed Apr 29, 2020 5:18 pm

He makes crap pop too.
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Re: Sir Richard Branson

Post by Woodleyclaret » Wed Apr 29, 2020 5:32 pm

Branson has donated millions to the Tories over the past 20 yrs

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Re: Sir Richard Branson

Post by randomclaret2 » Wed Apr 29, 2020 6:00 pm

Is that correct, do you have the details of his donations ?

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Re: Sir Richard Branson

Post by cbx750 » Wed Apr 29, 2020 6:09 pm

Taken from Daily Mirror web site, I don't know how old the article is.

A Virgin Management spokesperson said: “Sir Richard Branson avoids party politics and has never given a personal donation to any political party. This 'donation' represents Virgin Atlantic flights and flight upgrades given to the Conservative party since 2001. Flights and flight upgrades have been given to all three main political parties, including the Labour Party and many were to support important charity work in countries such as Kenya.”

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Re: Sir Richard Branson

Post by dougcollins » Wed Apr 29, 2020 7:17 pm

Different subject, but amusing to witness the complaints of the Employers who have habitually under-declared earnings and are now receiving 80% of not very much.

Seems like justice to me.
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Re: Sir Richard Branson

Post by tiger76 » Wed Apr 29, 2020 10:18 pm

I'm no defender of Branson,but he has always been apolitical,and as far as i'm aware he's not donated to any UK parties,bit like he's not donated to the UK treasury for the past 14 years.

Stop the political point-scoring,it's getting tedious.

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Re: Sir Richard Branson

Post by CombatClaret » Wed Apr 29, 2020 11:22 pm

Putting the tax situation aside I agree with this article that Virgin Atlantic has probably been a very useful to the public by providing legitimate competition to BA, forcing them to compete on price and quality.

https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/ne ... 77156.html

My first flight with Virgin was due to take place in 6 days from now :(

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Re: Sir Richard Branson

Post by Bullabill » Thu Apr 30, 2020 1:06 am

Gets a big mention in the Michael Moore film 'Planet of the Humans'. It's on you tube and worth a watch - a real eye-opener!

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Re: Sir Richard Branson

Post by bfcmik » Thu Apr 30, 2020 1:30 am

TVC15 wrote:
Wed Apr 22, 2020 11:20 am
Why does he not ask the government where he lives and where he registers his companies to avoid tax for a loan ?
Virgin Atlantic, a trading name of Virgin Atlantic Airways Limited and Virgin Atlantic International Limited, is a British airline with its head office in Crawley, England. It files it's tax return with HMRC.
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Re: Sir Richard Branson

Post by MalaysiaMo » Thu Apr 30, 2020 3:22 am

Several US-owned companies (United Fruit Company, Del Monte etc) used to grow bananas and pineapples on vast plantations in central America and the Caribbean islands that they "owned". They used their huge wealth to buy governments (hence the phrase "banana republic"). When the Brazilian government decided it had had enough in the mid-20th C and moved to nationalise the massive plantations in the country, the US-owned companies kicked-up a fuss, demanding compensation. The government responded by offering to repay all the money that the same, huge companies had officially paid out during their highly profitable operations in the country as compensation. Turned out that those same companies had not paid out anything officially - either to buy the land or in tax.....

TVC15
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Re: Sir Richard Branson

Post by TVC15 » Thu Apr 30, 2020 8:07 am

bfcmik wrote:
Thu Apr 30, 2020 1:30 am
Virgin Atlantic, a trading name of Virgin Atlantic Airways Limited and Virgin Atlantic International Limited, is a British airline with its head office in Crawley, England. It files it's tax return with HMRC.
And who owns Virgin Atlantic ?
And where is the company that owns Virgin Atlantic registered ?
And where is the person who owns the company that owns Virgin Atlantic registered ?
And how much have the parent group and the owners of the parent group paid in corporation tax and personal tax respectively to the UK government in the last 14 years ?

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Re: Sir Richard Branson

Post by IanMcL » Thu Apr 30, 2020 10:56 pm

He runs successful companies. I would give the company the loan.

I would want a large slice of said company in return, which would reduce as loan paid off.

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Re: Sir Richard Branson

Post by TVC15 » Thu Apr 30, 2020 11:01 pm

Bit of a problem with that Ian.
There’s a good chance it will be making losses for a few years in what has got to be one of the riskiest sectors in the world.
And then the taxpayer is lumbered with paying for losses.
They’ve asked their advisors to try and find the funding in the private sector - leave them too it. If they don’t find funding that’s another big clue to leave well alone.
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aggi
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Re: Sir Richard Branson

Post by aggi » Fri May 01, 2020 12:30 pm

Obviously the other thing to take into account here is what's going to happen to the 8,500 employees and the £75m or so of tax they pay each year? Whatever happens you'd expect some of them to be made redundnant but the cost of Virgin Atlantic going under completely would be significant in those terms.

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Re: Sir Richard Branson

Post by Claret Toni » Fri May 01, 2020 9:37 pm

bfcmik wrote:
Thu Apr 30, 2020 1:30 am
Virgin Atlantic, a trading name of Virgin Atlantic Airways Limited and Virgin Atlantic International Limited, is a British airline with its head office in Crawley, England. It files it's tax return with HMRC.
Just wonder to what extent these companies pay "management services or similar" to overseas companies.

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Re: Sir Richard Branson

Post by Paul Waine » Fri May 01, 2020 9:55 pm

Claret Toni wrote:
Fri May 01, 2020 9:37 pm
Just wonder to what extent these companies pay "management services or similar" to overseas companies.
I don't have any figures to quote. I'm pretty sure that all "virgin" brands pay something for the use of the "virgin" name.

If Virgin Atlantic can sort themselves out, then good luck to them. With BA making 1,000 pilots redundant and considering exiting Gatwick, with Ryanair planning redundancies and saying they don't expect demand to come back for a couple of years - and mentioning all the european "flag carrier legacy airlines" with gov't subsidies they are unfairly competing with, I don't think Virgin is a good credit risk and, maybe, it is time to let someone else give it a go and compete in that "not-BA" space.

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Re: Sir Richard Branson

Post by tiger76 » Tue May 05, 2020 3:06 pm

BREAKING

Virgin Atlantic to cut 3,000 UK jobs

Virgin Atlantic is to cut 3,000 jobs in the UK and stop its operations at London Gatwick Airport as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.

The airline, which employs around 10,000 people, suspended its Gatwick services during the pandemic and says they will not restart.

Virgin Atlantic is in the process of applying for emergency loans from the UK government.

The company says it also plans to reduce the size of its fleet of aircraft from 45 to 35 by the summer of 2022.

The company says it plans to restore about 60% of its pre-pandemic flying capacity by the end of 2020.

And he still has the cheek to apply for a loan,he's got a brass neck that's for sure,what exactly would the loan be for,he's already furloughed staff,and now he's laying off about a third of his employees,he's taking the p**s.And more importantly how would the loan be repaid if Virgin's not making an operating profit for several years.Tricky Dicky's trying to pull a fast one here.

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Re: Sir Richard Branson

Post by fatboy47 » Tue May 05, 2020 3:10 pm

off ya pop then Dicky.

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Re: Sir Richard Branson

Post by Blackrod » Tue May 05, 2020 3:23 pm

It would be intersting to see how much tax the UK registered company pays to HMRC in relation the ones not paying tax in the UK. I suspect the company that is not paying UK tax makes the profits and that is the business that wants the loan. As the main company is in multi national ownership how many other governments have been approached for loans ?

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Re: Sir Richard Branson

Post by Paul Waine » Wed May 06, 2020 12:12 am

Blackrod wrote:
Tue May 05, 2020 3:23 pm
It would be intersting to see how much tax the UK registered company pays to HMRC in relation the ones not paying tax in the UK. I suspect the company that is not paying UK tax makes the profits and that is the business that wants the loan. As the main company is in multi national ownership how many other governments have been approached for loans ?
I think Virgin Atlantic is UK registered. As with many airlines it is not often profitable, so I wouldn't expect it to pay much in corporation tax. Closure of Gatwick, redundancy for 3,000 staff and the "very little business" this year, will mean that there are losses to set off before taxes are due in future years.

I'd expect that Virgin Atlantic pays a royalty to another of Branson's businesses, registered elsewhere, for the use of the "virgin" brand. "Elsewhere" may be a low tax paying location.

Delta owns 49% of VA. Delta has rec'd $10 billion support from US gov't, but none of this will go to VA.

There are too many airlines competing for passengers. We should allow the markets to sort out the "winners and the losers" - though a lot of gov't are supporting their own "flag carriers."

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Re: Sir Richard Branson

Post by NewClaret » Wed May 06, 2020 1:19 am

Paul Waine wrote:
Wed May 06, 2020 12:12 am
I think Virgin Atlantic is UK registered. As with many airlines it is not often profitable, so I wouldn't expect it to pay much in corporation tax. Closure of Gatwick, redundancy for 3,000 staff and the "very little business" this year, will mean that there are losses to set off before taxes are due in future years.

I'd expect that Virgin Atlantic pays a royalty to another of Branson's businesses, registered elsewhere, for the use of the "virgin" brand. "Elsewhere" may be a low tax paying location.

Delta owns 49% of VA. Delta has rec'd $10 billion support from US gov't, but none of this will go to VA.

There are too many airlines competing for passengers. We should allow the markets to sort out the "winners and the losers" - though a lot of gov't are supporting their own "flag carriers."
Agree in principle. Complexity being that if we allow ours to fail, whilst other governments support theirs, our carriers will end up being foreign owned. Secondly, the competition in the sector does help to control pricing, so fewer carriers emerging from this crisis isn’t necessarily a good thing for consumers.

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Re: Sir Richard Branson

Post by Taffy on the wing » Wed May 06, 2020 3:27 am

CombatClaret wrote:
Wed Apr 29, 2020 11:22 pm
Putting the tax situation aside I agree with this article that Virgin Atlantic has probably been a very useful to the public by providing legitimate competition to BA, forcing them to compete on price and quality.

https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/ne ... 77156.html

My first flight with Virgin was due to take place in 6 days from now :(
Either that or they've been colluding to keep fares high & jam packed for the last several years!

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Re: Sir Richard Branson

Post by Taffy on the wing » Wed May 06, 2020 5:24 am

Paul Waine wrote:
Wed May 06, 2020 12:12 am
I think Virgin Atlantic is UK registered. As with many airlines it is not often profitable, so I wouldn't expect it to pay much in corporation tax. Closure of Gatwick, redundancy for 3,000 staff and the "very little business" this year, will mean that there are losses to set off before taxes are due in future years.

I'd expect that Virgin Atlantic pays a royalty to another of Branson's businesses, registered elsewhere, for the use of the "virgin" brand. "Elsewhere" may be a low tax paying location.

Delta owns 49% of VA. Delta has rec'd $10 billion support from US gov't, but none of this will go to VA.

There are too many airlines competing for passengers. We should allow the markets to sort out the "winners and the losers" - though a lot of gov't are supporting their own "flag carriers."
I would argue that Airlines have been consolidating for many years and profits have been stellar! Certainly in the US where we now have a 'big four'....And yes, they've already gotten a bailout after a record year in '19.
They responded to the bailouts from '08 &'09 by cramming every flight to the brim, charging fees for baggage, assigned seats, food etc etc...many in the US also moved the seat rows closer together, ( making certain seats more desirable ) and charging plenty....lot's of big people here. Flights were commonly overbooked, causing some to be bumped to the next flight/day...basically treating customers like cattle. The fares are so close in price, that it's difficult to imagine they aren't colluding on price, or just assigning areas.
Even international flights, American Airlines etc team with air New Zealand ...Lufthansa and Delta........I came to the states in 1984 and there was a huge disparity in pricing for flights to the UK...you could pick your day/time and get a great deal......now they're all within a few bucks of each other and are always full!..........In short, if they are too important / Big to fail and constantly need bailing out, let's Nationalize them!!!!

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Re: Sir Richard Branson

Post by Damo » Wed May 06, 2020 5:48 am

Is there anything you wouldn't like nationalising taffy?

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Re: Sir Richard Branson

Post by Paul Waine » Wed May 06, 2020 9:06 am

Taffy on the wing wrote:
Wed May 06, 2020 5:24 am
I would argue that Airlines have been consolidating for many years and profits have been stellar! Certainly in the US where we now have a 'big four'....And yes, they've already gotten a bailout after a record year in '19.
They responded to the bailouts from '08 &'09 by cramming every flight to the brim, charging fees for baggage, assigned seats, food etc etc...many in the US also moved the seat rows closer together, ( making certain seats more desirable ) and charging plenty....lot's of big people here. Flights were commonly overbooked, causing some to be bumped to the next flight/day...basically treating customers like cattle. The fares are so close in price, that it's difficult to imagine they aren't colluding on price, or just assigning areas.
Even international flights, American Airlines etc team with air New Zealand ...Lufthansa and Delta........I came to the states in 1984 and there was a huge disparity in pricing for flights to the UK...you could pick your day/time and get a great deal......now they're all within a few bucks of each other and are always full!..........In short, if they are too important / Big to fail and constantly need bailing out, let's Nationalize them!!!!
Taffy, have you been on US "west coast" since 1984? How does someone who's been in US for that long come up with the idea that there is collusion on prices? Is there any sector in US that is "nationalized" and a success?

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Re: Sir Richard Branson

Post by claretonthecoast1882 » Wed May 06, 2020 9:07 am

Paul Waine wrote:
Wed May 06, 2020 9:06 am
Taffy, have you been on US "west coast" since 1984? How does someone who's been in US for that long come up with the idea that there is collusion on prices? Is there any sector in US that is "nationalized" and a success?
If he has been there since 84 you would think he would have other things on his mind than constantly whinging about the government in this country

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Re: Sir Richard Branson

Post by Paul Waine » Wed May 06, 2020 9:20 am

claretonthecoast1882 wrote:
Wed May 06, 2020 9:07 am
If he has been there since 84 you would think he would have other things on his mind than constantly whinging about the government in this country
I've always assumed that being a Burnley fan would be a big "pull" wherever you've moved to in the world. I'd also assume that Taffy still has family back in Burnley/UK. But, if I've lived elsewhere for so long, I might not be too involved/too concerned with the politics "back home."

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Re: Sir Richard Branson

Post by claretonthecoast1882 » Wed May 06, 2020 9:21 am

Paul Waine wrote:
Wed May 06, 2020 9:20 am
I've always assumed that being a Burnley fan would be a big "pull" wherever you've moved to in the world. I'd also assume that Taffy still has family back in Burnley/UK. But, if I've lived elsewhere for so long, I might not be too involved/too concerned with the politics "back home."
Even more so when you look who is in charge where he lives :D

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Re: Sir Richard Branson

Post by Longsidelenny » Wed May 06, 2020 10:26 am

Who disenfected donald utc

Taffy on the wing
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Re: Sir Richard Branson

Post by Taffy on the wing » Wed May 06, 2020 3:35 pm

Paul Waine wrote:
Wed May 06, 2020 9:06 am
Taffy, have you been on US "west coast" since 1984? How does someone who's been in US for that long come up with the idea that there is collusion on prices? Is there any sector in US that is "nationalized" and a success?
I explained my thoughts clearly.

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Re: Sir Richard Branson

Post by Taffy on the wing » Wed May 06, 2020 3:41 pm

claretonthecoast1882 wrote:
Wed May 06, 2020 9:07 am
If he has been there since 84 you would think he would have other things on his mind than constantly whinging about the government in this country
I still have family there, so i care.
Watching people like you, tie yourself in knots defending this Toffee-nosed, Etonian version of Donald Trump
is just about all i can bear...it's like watching a car crash in slow motion.

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Re: Sir Richard Branson

Post by Danieljwaterhouse » Wed May 06, 2020 4:43 pm

And here dies democracy

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Re: Sir Richard Branson

Post by claretonthecoast1882 » Thu May 07, 2020 7:55 am

Taffy on the wing wrote:
Wed May 06, 2020 3:41 pm
I still have family there, so i care.
Watching people like you, tie yourself in knots defending this Toffee-nosed, Etonian version of Donald Trump
is just about all i can bear...it's like watching a car crash in slow motion.
Wow 2 quotes in a day, I feel I am now on the idiots list of targets

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Re: Sir Richard Branson

Post by aggi » Thu May 07, 2020 10:46 am

Paul Waine wrote:
Wed May 06, 2020 9:06 am
Taffy, have you been on US "west coast" since 1984? How does someone who's been in US for that long come up with the idea that there is collusion on prices? Is there any sector in US that is "nationalized" and a success?
I spend a lot of time flying to the US and flying in the US. For carriers of the same level it's not common to find variations of more than $100 or so on the same route. It may just be that they all work to the same pricing model and have the same costs but there isn't much difference out there.

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