YOSUSHI: Branson Launches BNE-HND Service On Giant Sushi Train

It’s been a busy and fun week for Sir Richard Branson in Australia, who after launching Virgin Cruise Voyages on Tuesday, yesterday spruiked Virgin Australia’s new Brisbane to Haneda Tokyo route in classic Branson style.

If only more business owners could be like Sir Richard Branson when it comes to putting themselves front and centre to creatively launch new initiatives.

Hold that thought. For some leaders, it may be better if they remain in the background.

Tie-loathing PR legend Sir Richard Branson sure is one unique individual, and it’s great to see him back in Australia shaking things up.

Here’s Sir Richard in action on Tuesday night…

After his bar dancing antics in Sydney to launch Virgin Cruise Voyages on Tuesday night, yesterday the Virgin Knight officially launched the soon to fly – Brisbane, to Haneda Tokyo service on Virgin Australia by arriving on the baggage carousel (sushi train) surrounded by giant plates of sushi at Brisbane airport.

Thankfully the sushi wasn’t real or it could have all been a bit fishy.

Not every day you get to see Sir Richard Branson ride a baggage carousel with novelty plastic sushi… what an entrance! Great to partner with Virgin to deliver new flights to Qld from Japan
🍣 $254 million
🍣 2760 jobs
🍣 100,375 extra airline seats to Bris✈️ @richardbranson pic.twitter.com/RBMCVZxzQA

— Kate Jones (@katejonesqld) November 14, 2019

Flanked by Japanese drummers and holding giant novelty chopsticks, Sir Branson cheekily announced the launch alongside Virgin Australia CEO, Paul Scurrah.

“I’ve been lucky enough to visit Japan many times and I know Virgin Australia is going to be welcomed there with open arms,” Branson said.

“I’ve always liked visiting Japan and, you know, I’ve been visiting it since I was a teenager and now I’m going to be able to afford to go there,” Branson told Business Insider Australia.

“I’ve been lucky enough to visit Japan many times and I know Virgin Australia is going to be welcomed there with open arms. Aussie travellers are also in for a real treat although I don’t think giant sushi has made it onto the onboard menu just yet!”

Sir Richard Branson

Branson added he enjoyed the skiing in Japan. “It’s got some of the best powder snow anywhere in the world,” he said.

Need to know VA Brisbane to Haneda

Virgin A330/200

• The daily flights will be serviced by an Airbus 330-200
• The Airbus 330-200 features 20 Business Class seats and 255 Economy seats, including 8 Economy X seats.
• Tokyo Haneda will become Virgin Australia’s 13th international destination from Brisbane, which is the most international departures out of Brisbane of any airline.
• A new reciprocal codeshare and frequent flyer partnership with All Nippon Airways (ANA) will provide guests travelling outbound from Australia access to 1,800 return flights to 38 points in Japan.
• The new service, which will begin from 29 March 2020, connects both airlines for the first time ever
• Tickets on the new route will be available to book from December 2019.

Guess who?!

Virgin released a statement expressing how excited they are that travellers will now be able to make the most of their “competitive airfares and award-winning service” on flights to and from Japan.

“It’s about time someone brought competition to the monopoly market between Brisbane and Tokyo, and we couldn’t think of a better airline to do just that”.

Find out more: www.virginaustralia.com/en-au/flights-to-tokyo