Virgin Group is in talks with a potential Russian partner about launching an airline in the market, Chairman Richard Branson said in Moscow yesterday. "Now is the time for Virgin to come to Russia," he said at a news conference during an investor conference he is attending. His remarks were reported widely. "We are in discussions with a Russian partner," he said. "We will announce in three months who that partner will be." Branson added that it would be better to do "something from scratch" rather than partner with an existing carrier. "You can make sure of the quality and avoid all of those cobwebs you might otherwise get," he explained. "We're looking to take on the airlines here." He promised that the Virgin carrier "will be the best" in the market and noted that Russians don't fly nearly as often as people in Western Europe. "There's a lot of potential to take business away from the rail service," he said. Atwonline