British and brash, Virgin Atlantic Airways is a leading player in Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group collection of branded companies. From its hubs in the UK (London's Heathrow and Gatwick airports, plus Manchester), the airline serves about 30 destinations around the world with a fleet of about 40 aircraft. It extends its network via code-sharing relationships with carriers such as Air China, Continental Airlines, Singapore Airlines, and Australia-based sister company Virgin Blue. (Code-sharing allows airlines to sell tickets on one another's flights and thus offer potential passengers more destinations.) Virgin Group owns 51% of Virgin Atlantic, and Singapore Airlines owns a 49% stake.