Up, up and really far away for Virgin?

It’s been an unexpectedly good couple of months for Virgin Group chairman and serial entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson. It looked like the end for his railway services in late summer when he was told his Virgin Trains operation had lost the right to operate the West Coast route, but his successful challenge has led to the UK government giving him a franchise extension until a new competition can be held.

Branson has meanwhile been turning his eyes to the heavens, positing a genuine future...