Branson confirms Adelaide still in running for Virgin Galactic launch pad as he launches Virgin Voyages
As he launched his new cruise ship offering for Aussies, Sir Richard Branson confirmed South Australia still could host the nation’s first Virgin Galactic space launch pad. But there is some competition.
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Exclusive: Sir Richard Branson has confirmed South Australia is still in the running for hosting the nation’s first Virgin Galactic space launch pad.
Branson told News Corp there are “ongoing talks” to use the Festival State as a potential destination to establish a launch site for his passenger spacecraft.
Virgin Galactic founder wants to collaborate with the state to send paying travellers into space.
But Branson, who is in Australia to launch his Virgin Voyages cruise ship with tailored package deals for Australians through Virgin Australia, said he has also been approached by New South Wales.
“There are talks going on, whether it be in Adelaide … I know we’ve been approached by NSW as well,” he confirmed.
“Those talks are ongoing. Our priority at the moment is moving to the space port in New Mexico and finishing off our test flights and getting into operation next year.”
It comes as Branson called on Australian insurance companies to avoid using any “normal company trick” to delay payouts to support bushfire victims.
“Insurance companies must work quickly and not do their normal insurance company trick of delaying, delaying, delaying the payouts, because if you do not have the insurance money you can’t start rebuilding,” he said.
The Insurance Council of Australia told News Corp the estimated initial loss is $40 million, with 360 claims received including 80 total losses. This is expected to increase.
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He also said Virgin Australia is working with the Salvation Army Emergency Services to assist by flying their team members to locations most in need of help.
“I know Virgin Australia are helping people get out of the situation without charging them and Virgin Australia is also helping get people into the situations to help,” he said.
The airline is waiving any change or cancellation fees for guests impacted by the fires or unable to travel due to the fires.
Guests are also able to donate to the Salvation Army Emergency Services in Virgin Australia lounges and at boarding gates.
Branson’s comments come after he survived Hurricane Irma which hit his private Caribbean home on Necker Island in 2017.
“We went through the worst hurricane in history two years ago … with these disasters it’s wonderful how people rally around and help those people in distress and help get schools rebuilt,” he said.
“I think those people who didn’t have their house burn down [in Australia] need to have open doors to people who’ve been affected for businesses to try and find work for those who need work and help fundraise to get people back on their feet.”
Branson is using his trip Down Under to promote his new cruise ship, and catch up with friends.
“I’ve got a lot of friends in Australia, so any excuse [to come back],” he said.
“It’s an adults-only experience, it will be the best place for partying it will be the best place for those who want to chill and there won’t be young kids running around the ship.
“We’ve got a massive running track at the top of the ship with incredible views … so you can party all night, eat all day and then you can run it off in the evening.”
His first cruise ship, Scarlet Lady, is set to sail in April 2020 and some of its crew will include some newly-recruited Australians from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
Australians will be able to fly from each eastern state with Virgin to the US, where they will board the cruise ship in Miami and go to destinations in the US, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic.
“If you move the clock forward maybe three years we may well have a ship operating out of Australia,” he said.
“The next ship is going to be somewhere in Europe, but if we put a cruise ship here it’ll be domestic and the islands around.”
Virgin Voyages’ CCO Nirmal Saverimuttu added: “Australia can be a real big market for us, it’s not unimaginable it can be one of our source markets, Australians love to travel, they love experiences.”
Originally published as Branson confirms Adelaide still in running for Virgin Galactic launch pad as he launches Virgin Voyages