An increase in business travellers helped Richard Branson's airline, Virgin Atlantic, to record soaring profits last year.
Carrying a record 4.9 million passengers, Virgin had a 2005-06 pre-tax, pre-exceptional items profit of £41.6m - more than double the figure for 2004-05.
Virgin announced that its staff would receive a bonus equivalent to two weeks' extra pay and also said it would start a new London to Mauritius air service late next year.
Virgin recorded revenues of £1.91 billion for 2005-06 - up 17% on the previous year. Today's financial figures include the company's African business, Virgin Nigeria Airways, as well as the tour operator Virgin Holidays.
Virgin's results announcement comes after reports that it was Virgin that 'blew the whistle' on British Airways, which is now being investigated by the UK's Office of Fair Trading and the US Department of Justice over alleged cartel activity involving BA and other airlines. Virgin has said that it is helping the OFT and the justice department with their inquiries.
