Richard Branson said he wants to float 30% of his Australian budget airline Virgin Blue on the Australian stock exchange after the carrier said it had tripled its annual pre-tax profit today.

Richard Branson said he wants to float 30% of his Australian budget airline Virgin Blue on the Australian stock exchange after the carrier said it had tripled its annual pre-tax profit today.

Richard Branson said Virgin Atlantic plans to commence flights between Australia and Hong Kong in 2003.

New Zealand government officials today said they would welcome cut-price airline Virgin Blue to the domestic market, but will not allow it to fly the lucrative route to Australia.

Virgin Blue, the Australian low budget airline set up by Sir Richard Branson, has lodged a complaint of unfair competition against Qantas Airways.