TRAVEL WATCH: DECEMBER 20, 1999 VOL. 154 NO. 24

ALSO IN TIME

Where Asia Goes for Glitz (and Gambling) Haven't been to Las Vegas yet? You're in a crowd that's getting smaller all the time Detour Every year since 1983, the Peninsula Manila has hosted Concert at the Pen, an informal Christmas spectacular Web Crawling If you've ever wondered what happens just outside Las Vegas, Beyond Vegas gives you the answer Hot Tip If the chairman of the Virgin Group has his way--and let's face it, he usually does--his airline will be flying domestic Australian routes by July 2000

Hot Tip

Richard Branson will be competing in the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. If the chairman of the Virgin Group has his way--and let's face it, he usually does--his airline will be flying domestic Australian routes by July 2000. Branson says he will go wing-to-wing with Qantas and Ansett Australia on price, with a no-frills service that will enable Virgin to offer up to 80% off current domestic fares--great news for travelers planning to extend an Olympic vacation. The first route will likely be the popular Sydney-Melbourne run. Virgin has received assurances from the Australian government and airports that terminal space and time slots will be made available, though some regulatory obstacles will have to be overcome. Meanwhile, Virgin is also spicing things up with a foray into subcontinental airspace. Branson was in India last week trying to push forward talks on flight agreements between India and Britain. If Virgin's dreams are fulfilled, it will offer discount fares on currently overbooked routes linking London with Delhi and Bombay. While Branson's balloons never made it all the way around the globe, it seems as though his fleet of aircraft just might.