| Premier Christy Clark welcomed Sir Richard Branson and Virgin Atlantic Airways to British Columbia for the airline's inaugural flight from London, UK to Vancouver, BC that landed at YVR today. The new flights add an additional 960 seats per week from the UK between May and October. Up to 40000 passengers are expected to use the four-days-a-week service, which will create an estimated 35 jobs at YVR. According to the Vancouver International Airport Authority, spending by these additional passengers is expected to generate $21.5 million in tourism expenditure and create additional jobs in hotels, restaurants, shops and tourist attractions. In total, the new service will add an estimated $10.4 million to BC's GDP. For more information, please visit: www.newsroom.gov.bc.ca Stay connected: www.gov.bc.ca |