[Yada Yada]

Originally Posted by www.smh.com.au

Virgin Blue could be back in the money
By Scott Rochfort
January 24, 2006

There is growing optimism Virgin Blue finally may start living up to the hype of its champagne-soaked December 2003 stockmarket debut.

Although still well shy of their $2.25 listing price, the airline's shares yesterday surged 10c to $1.635 in heavy trade in a generally weaker market amid speculation it may provide signs of a profit turnaround at its February 7 annual meeting.

An ambiguously worded statement put out by Virgin Blue's 62.4 per cent owner Patrick Corp on Friday gave the strongest hint yet the airline might have bucked its post-float profit slump.

Full story here.

[Yada Yada]

Here is a bit more news about DJ's improving profitability.

Originally Posted by theage.com.au

Virgin Blue the hot ticket
By Scott Rochfort, Sydney
January 25, 2006

VIRGIN Blue has fuelled market speculation it is set for a major rebound in profits this financial year. In response to a query from the Australian Stock Exchange on why its shares had risen 22¢ to $1.75 since last Friday, Virgin Blue pleaded ignorance.

Responding to the ASX speeding ticket, Virgin Blue chief financial officer Keith Neate said: "The company is not aware of any information … that has not previously been announced which, if known, could be an explanation for recent trading in the securities of the company."

However, Virgin Blue offered a major clue that it had overcome the disastrous slump in profits it encountered in the second half of last year. It said pre-tax and pre-abnormal operating profit for the six months to March 31 "would not vary from the previous corresponding period by more than 15 per cent".

Full story here.

how hard can it be to make a few bucks more? they only have 1 other major competitor... nobody deflects airlines unless they are UNHAPPY.....