Virgin Atlantic plans to create 1,000 new jobs over the next 18 months as part of a major expansion , despite being faced with extra costs as oil prices surge to record high points.
Chairman Sir Richard Branson announced the new jobs at the Sussex airport on Monday before the airline's inaugural flight to Cuba and the Bahamas.
Virgin, 51% owned by Branson's Virgin Group and 49% by Singapore Airlines, said it would recruit a total of 1,500 employees by 2007, though 500 of the positions would result from natural staff turnover.
Virgin Atlantic currently employs about 8,500 staff worldwide.
The airline launched new routes to Cuba and The Bahamas today, coinciding with an increase to the fuel surcharge on all of its flights by up to 50%, as the price of crude oil headed towards $61 for the first time.
The airline's expansion includes extra services to Shanghai, Las Vegas, Orlando and Port Harcourt, Nigeria this summer and new routes to Dubai and Jamaica in 2006.
