Britain: Virgin Galactic's latest 'space jet' unveiled at Farnborough Airshow

Visitors to the Farnborough International Airshow 2012 were yesterday given a glimpse of Sir Richard Branson’s space travel dream courtesy of Virgin Galactic, the world's first commercial spaceline.

In typical bold Branson style, the multi-millionaire boss of Virgin Atlantic and founder of Virgin Galactic unveiled LauncherOne, a new new air-launched rocket specifically designed to deliver small satellites into orbit.

With substantial funding already raised from Virgin Galactic's partner aabar Investments PJS, commercial flights of this new orbital launch vehicle are expected to begin by 2016.

Read more: Virgin Galactic's latest 'space jet' unveiled at Farnborough Airshow

Virgin to deploy redesigned Airbus A330 on Del-Lon route

Buoyed by 15% growth in its business class passengers on the New Delhi-London sector last year, British carrier Virgin Atlantic plans to deploy a redesigned Airbus A330 with in-plane mobile connectivity on the route from next month.

The redesigned upper class cabin, which is a part of the airline's 100 million pound investment plan, would have the longest bed in the business class, Virgin Atlantic said here.

"Having seen over 15% growth in business class last year out of New Delhi, I am confident the new business class cabin will help us attract even more customers," airline chief executive Steve Ridgway said. The cabin, which has taken four and a half years to design and build, will also feature the new suite with Virgin Atlantic's most sophisticated and comfortable bed yet, it said.

Read more: Virgin to deploy redesigned Airbus A330 on Del-Lon route - PTI -

Airline Industry: In-Flight Amenities That Make Us Hope for Tarmac Delays

There's been some chatter about whether first class suites are overkill, but we still think this is pretty fabulous. Couples in Singapore Airlines’ suites cabins (exclusively on the airline's 16 A380 planes) can get cozy by booking two middle-aisle rooms and transforming them into a double bed—the first such service in the industry.

The benefit of Virgin America’s free, Chromebook lending system is twofold. Skip the hassle of schlepping a laptop through security, and spend travel time zipping through work thanks to free in-flight Wi-Fi (only for Chromebook users). Through January 15, pick up Chromebooks on a first-come first-served basis at the gate for flights from San Francisco, Dallas–Fort Worth, Boston, Chicago, and New York (JFK); return the computers at your destination.

Fresh towels, Bulgari cologne, and the world’s only in-flight shower await first class passengers on Emirates A380 planes. The planes carry an extra 500 kg of water, enough for each flyer to refresh with a hot, five-minute shower. Emirates' A380s currently fly from Dubai to Auckland, Bangkok, Beijing, Hong Kong, Jeddah, Kuala Lampur, London Heathrow, Manchester, New York, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Seoul, Shanghai, Sydney, and Toronto.

For more: In-Flight Amenities That Make Us Hope for Tarmac Delays - Yahoo! Travel