– Closes Virgin Digital in the UK (Virgin now sells music downloads through Virgin Media's website) 2007 – Virgin Fuel US$400 million in Virgin Atlantic jet flight on biofuels and in renewable energy. 2007 – Virgin Money becomes preferred bidder for acquisition of Northern Rock (and is eventually successful). 2007 – Virgin Radio Italia launches in Italy in joint venture with Finelco. 2007 – Virgin CrossCountry ceases after franchise lost to Arriva CrossCountry 2008 – Virgin Australia Airlines offers competitive prices between Australia and Los Angeles. Known as V Australia due to naming rights. 2008 – Virgin launches Virgin Healthcare 2009 – Virgin launches Virgin Money Giving 2010s 2010 – Virgin launches Virgin Racing, a Formula One team previously known as Manor Grand Prix 2010 – Virgin launches Virgin Gaming, a service for people of all skill levels to play competitively on popular Video Games. 2010 – Virgin launches Virgin Produced, a film and television development, packaging and production company based in Los Angeles, California. 2010 – Virgin launches Project, a digital magazine created exclusively for Apple Inc's iPad. 2010 – Virgin Money buys Church House Trust 2012 – Virgin Money buys Northern Rock 2012 – Virgin Galactic announces the development of orbital space launch system LauncherOne. 2013 – Virgin Media sold to Liberty Global 2015 – Virgin Trains East Coast commences operating the InterCity East Coast franchise, Virgin Group hold a 10% shareholding 2016 – Virgin launches Virgin Voyages; Virgin Radio Jakarta launches in May 2016, replacing Ninety Niners FM. The station was owned by MPG Media 2017 – Virgin invested in Hyperloop One; Branson joined its board of directors, and in December 2017 became its chairman. 2018 – Virgin invests in Brightline trains in Florida, USA. The system is briefly named Virgin Trains USA. 2018 – Virgin Trains East Coast ceases trading 2019 - Virgin purchases Flybe through the consortium Connect Airways, Flybe is subsequently renamed Virgin Connect. 2019 - Virgin Trains West Coast ceases after InterCity West Coast franchise lost to Avanti West Coast References External links Virgin Corporate Website virginbrand.com Unofficial blog of the Virgin Group International Rescue Corps Gonzo Way of Branding Fast Company magazine article on Sir Richard Branson Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) International Ballooning Commission (CIA) notable flights Svenska Ballongfederationen, Pacific ocean flights Profile on BBC News dated September 27, 2004 Mates History "Richard Branson launched Mates condoms in the UK in 1987