Virgin boss fails to snag Miranda Kerr for new airline

Melbourne, Feb 27 (ANI): Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson's plan to snag Miranda Kerr for his new airline V Australia received a setback after the model's premier Australian client, David Jones, raised objection.

Branson had been wooing Kerr to become the face of his new airline, a flight service between Australia and the US.

However, Jones is understood to have objected to their 'face' becoming Branson's.

Branson had already named one of seven new long haul Boeing aircraft in her honour and an advertising campaign was scheduled to be shot in Brisbane.

But the campaign was scrapped at the last moment when Jones reminded Kerr of her contractual commitments in Australia and that she is not allowed to appear for any other brand in the country.

According to industry sources, Branson had been sold the deal by IMG Australia, the fashion arm of which operates Australian Fashion Week.

It is believed it they were keen to attract sponsorship from the airline.

IMGModels manages Kerr internationally but not in Australia, where she is managed by Chic model agency.

IMG Fashion's Daniel Hill denied any deal was being done to sign Kerr for the new airline.

The department store said it was well known Kerr was exclusively theirs in Australia and could not see how other deals would be proposed.

"David Jones is committed to supporting the growth of Miranda's career opportunities both within Australia and internationally, recognising that Miranda is already Australia's leading supermodel," the Daily Telegraph quoted Jones' group general manager of marketing, Damian Eales, as saying. (ANI)