Sir+Richard+Branson-+1980-1990s

= **19****80’s**  =

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 * During the 1980’s Branson’s Virgin empire grew astronomically, encompassing a variety of affiliating companies, under the ‘Virgin’ name.

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 * In 1985, Sir Richard set out from New York to beat the record for crossing the Atlantic by boat, but barely a hundred miles from home the boat had hit some floating driftwood and sank. Sir Richard and the crew had to be plucked from the sea but the escapade made him and his company household names. A year later the then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was congratulating him on the fastest ever Atlantic crossing in a new boat, but it was not enough.
 * Soon he was setting out to be the first to cross the Atlantic by hot air balloon. That trip, too, nearly ended in disaster. At journeys end the balloon (1987), went out of control, and ditched them in the Irish Sea. Sir Richard and his pilot, Per Lindstrand, jumped out. Once more he was plucked from the water. ([|BBC, 2004])


 * But, there was a method to Branson’s apparent madness. His attempts to break world records, in water and in the air, served two purposes, as Branson himself later admitted. It allowed him to indulge his love of extreme sports and pit himself against the elements. It also provided plenty of free publicity for the expanding Virgin Empire.


 * Through the 1980s, Richard Branson hit his stride by successfully diversifying his Virgin business portfolio in a variety of new directions, the Virgin group welcomed the arrival of 9 new subsidiary companies:
 * The 1983 launch of Virgin Games, a video-game design branch
 * Virgin Vision, a broadcasting initiative, were logical extensions of the Virgin name.
 * His involvement in 1984's Virgin Atlantic Airways partnership represented a bold move for Branson from entertainment into air travel. Confident that he could make the airline profitable within a year, the entrepreneur did just that through its initial London to New York service and subsequent expansion into the Caribbean, Australia, Asia, and Africa. In time, the airline became a top 10 favourite for UK travellers and the first to use the 440 seat-capacity Airbus A340-600, complete with extra amenities like seat-back televisions (another airline first) and industry-leading flat beds.
 * For more details on the Virgin Group, please visit the Virgin Group section.