Virgin Atlantic appoints Fursan Travel as its General Sales Agent in Saudi Arabia

Andrew Fyfe, Virgin Atlantic's Regional Manager Middle East, said:

"I am delighted with the appointment of Fursan Travel as our General Sales Agent in Saudi Arabia. This appointment provides us with the opportunity to promote our services to consumers within Saudi Arabia. Since launching our daily services between the UK and Dubai in March 2006 we have been looking to expand our off line activities within the region and therefore Saudi Arabia with its dynamic growth in air travel provides increasing opportunities for us. Following an extensive tender process Fursan Travel demonstrated to us that they would be a good fit for Virgin Atlantic."

Fursan Travel is a leading Saudi-based travel and tourism organization and part of the Al Rajhi Group. The Riyadh headquartered company was established in 1980, has over 85 branches across Saudi Arabia and employs a team of over 600 associates. Currently undergoing an extensive expansion and renovation effort, including a progressive refurbishment of its branches kingdom-wide, Fursan Travel has become one of Saudi Arabia's most modern and successful travel organizations by offering an enhanced, one-stop-shop customer experience.

Fursan Travel's operating lines of business include Corporate Travel, Leisure Travel, Meetings & Events and GSA Services. The company offers a comprehensive range of travel-related services designed to meet the diverse needs of its clients.

Roger Pfund, CEO of Fursan Travel, said, "At Fursan Travel, we pride ourselves in offering exemplary, one-stop-shop travel services to our clients. We are delighted to have been selected by Virgin Atlantic to represent them in Saudi Arabia and see this as an important milestone to support our vision and business goals. We recognize Virgin Atlantic brings passion to the marketplace which is something that inspires us - so I see this as an important ingredient to a successful partnership."

Virgin Atlantic launched services between London Heathrow and Dubai in March 2006, offering a daily service from June 2006. Flights are operated by Airbus A340-600 aircraft which is fitted with the airline's award winning Upper Class Suite. The Upper Class Suite consists of a reclining leather seat for take off, a place to sit and eat a proper meal opposite your partner, the longest fully flat bed in the world with a proper mattress for sleeping on.

Since it was founded in 1984, Virgin Atlantic Airways has become Britain's second largest long haul carrier, serving the world's major cities. Now based at London Gatwick, London Heathrow and Manchester airports, Virgin Atlantic operates 38 aircraft and flies to 30 destinations worldwide.