LOS ANGELES, CA–( EMWNews – March 30, 2008) –

WHAT: Los Angeles Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa will be joined by U.S.

      Department of Transportation Secretary Mary Peters (via satellite),

      Virgin Group Founder and Chairman Sir Richard Branson and Virgin

      Blue Group co-founder and CEO Brett Godfrey at a news conference

      to announce the start of service between Australia and Los Angeles

      International Airport (LAX) on V Australia, Virgin Blue Airlines'

      new long-haul air carrier.



      During the news conference, officials will announce V Australia

      Airlines will use the first of 10 weekly allotments to launch

      non-stop service between Sydney and LAX beginning December.



      The addition of V Australia's new air service at LAX will create

      more local jobs and foster the opportunity for economic growth in

      the City of Los Angeles and throughout the region.  Based on an

      economic analysis of overseas flights at LAX by the Los Angeles

      County Economic Development Corporation, the V Australia flights will

      generate an annual economic impact of up to $872 million, and sustain

      as many as 4,340 jobs with total wages of $218 million.



      V Australia will be the ninth air carrier to begin or announce new

      international service to LAX in the past year, which continues a

      trend toward increased international air travel at LAX.  In total,

      the nine carriers will have added 126 arrivals and departures per

      week at LAX, with an estimated annual economic impact of more than

      $5.6 billion.  Overall, the new services will sustain 28,000 jobs

      paying wages totaling $1.4 billion.



WHO:  - Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa

      - U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Mary Peters

       (via satellite)

      - Founder & Chairman of Virgin Group Sir Richard Branson

      - Co-founder & Chief Executive Officer of Virgin Blue Group

        Brett Godfrey



WHEN: Monday, March 31, 2008 at 10:30 a.m.



WHERE: LAX Tom Bradley International Terminal

       Upper/Departures Level Ticketing Aisle A



MEDIA PARKING: Broadcast-equipped media vehicles ONLY displaying LAX Media

               Parking Permits may park terminal curbside on the

               Upper/Departures Level between Terminal 3 and TBIT, and

               TBIT and Terminal 4.  All other media may park in Parking

               Structures 3 or 4.  Parking will be validated.