This company has a short but unusual story. When the Belgian branch of Trans European Airways (TEA) collapsed, a few planes were rescued and a new company launched : EuroBelgian Airlines (EBA) to fly charter routes for Belgian tourists. TEA had been competing with Sobelair around the tour operators and EBA could maintain some very good clients. In the mid nineties, Virgin Atlantic bought the company over and launched a new company called Virgin Express. The concept is a low cost (scheduled flights) airline with, for instance, a free seating policy (from Brussels) and limited beverage and food service. The company operates under "TV" flight initials. However, the company also keeps on operating charter flights with a "VEX" flight initial. This part of the company operates under the control of the former owners of EBA. A bit confusing sometimes, even for old rats.

Virgin "has gone in bed with Sabena" (according to the competitors) through code share agreements to large airports as Heathrow, Barcelona and Rome. Not without serious criticisms from Sabena tickets buyers, unsatisfied with Virgin's low cost approach. However, some improvements have been made on this regard. The free seating policy has changed into a dedicated seat policy (at least since summer '99 and from Heathrow).

On Madrid flights, they are competitors again and to Nice they have always remain like that. Copenhagen has been going for a while as a Virgin own destination, Milan works out too and Berlin was announced in '99 with the same regime.

Virgin has built a subsidiary in Shannon (Ireland) to cut down the cost of personal (high Belgian taxes were a bit heavy for their policy). A fierce reaction of Belgian pilots made Virgin limit the amount of Ireland hired personal to 150 (vs 800 in Brussels).

The fleet is composed of Boeing 737-300s and 400s, some of them being regged in Ireland (EI-TVA and EI-TVB - 400s - and EI-TVN, EI-TVO and EI-TVP - 300s). Two of the planes (VEC and VED) leased from BBAM and TOMB are subleased to TSC in winter with other reg numbers (Canadian, it seems).

You might have seen a white A320 (EI-TLS) as well, not to speak about the summer rented planes like the famous (because of a fire engine during the summer '98) Irish Tristar (EI-COL).

A A300B4-203 (EI-TLL) should normally be leased from and operated by TransAer (EI) from mid-99.

According to "the Bulletin" (edition of Nov. 25th '99), serious flying license problems have risen at Virgin Express. The normal 4 years Air Operating Certificate was about to expire and the Belgian Civil Aviation Authority (BCAA) had refused to give a new 4 years one, changing it into a 4 months, later slashed to a two weeks one. According to the same medium, the fax would not have reached its goal and Virgin Express would have continued flying without license ! It seems that repeated use of "wet lease" agreements and the continuous change of senior managers were causing problems to the BCAA ("one did not know with whom to talk anymore"). Talks are now in progress and the hope is - still according to the Bulletin - that one will reach a solution, but not immediately with a new 4 years Air Operating Certificate. Arrival of John Osborne straight from GB Airways seem to have given the best impression to the BCAA.

On the Sabena side (code share agreements), anxiety rises as to what the image of the company might become if the image of the partner deteriorates... "Decisions will be taken if it has a long term effect on passengers confidence" a spokesman said. To be continued !

Although it has nothing to do with it, let's mention the foundation in '98 of Virgin Sun under British flag with V2 initial and with the same boss as Virgin Atlantic (R. Branson). The company is based at London Gatwick. The tail scheme is identical (reversed) to the one of Virgin Express. The rest of the fuselage is light yellow. This company operate two A320s to mediterranean and Canarian routes (see below as well).
 

	OO-LTL, EBA Boeing 737-300 (1991) at Arrecife (ACE) disembarking passengers under the Canarian rain ! The aircraft has been taken over by Virgin, but has been "re-routed" to Ireland since then to become EI-TVP. Could be back again since February 2001 (?!?).
	Virgin Express Boeing 737-300 at Brussels (BRU) in final for runway 25L on Sept 6th '99. From far my best Virgin Express picture.
	Virgin Express Boeing 737-300 at Brussels (BRU) in final for runway 25L.
	OO-VBR, Virgin Express Boeing 737-400 (1989) at Brussels (BRU) being pushed back from gate alongside runway 25R mainly used for take off. Once more notice the traditional cleanliness of those aircrafts allowing you to see every little "door" into the fuselage (look at them on the back).
	OO-VBR, Virgin Express Boeing 737-400 at Brussels (BRU) touching down on runway 25L.
	EI-TVA, Virgin Express Boeing 737-300 (1996) at Brussels (BRU) in final for runway 25L. Unlike the most aircraft of the fleet, this one is a example of some (5) Irish registrations that could be observed in the fleet. Acquired by Virgin Express Ireland in '98. Seems to have been transfered/leased (in June 2000) to Virgin Blue in Australia under reg VH-VGA "Blue Belle".
	OO-LTM, Virgin Express Boeing 737-300 (1991) in final to rwy 25L, Brussels, May 1st 2001. Seems to be owned by Virgin Blue. Has flown for Virgin Express France as F-GLTM and F-GNTM.
	00- Virgin Express B737-300, 50 feet from threshold rwy 20 (rare !) on Aug. 18th '01 at Brussels.
	G-VTAN Virgin Sun Airbus A320-214, "Sunshine girl" (1997) at the end of push back at Las Palmas on Nov. 14th '99.