Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd, the British airline controlled by billionaire Richard Branson, may be sold to investors.

Branson may buy back a 49-percent stake in the carrier held by Singapore Airlines Ltd before selling the company, spokesman Paul Charles said on August 20, according to Bloomberg News. Analysts value the airline at as much as 1.5 billion pounds (US$2.98 billion), he said.

"It is possible that Virgin Atlantic could be floated," Charles said via e-mail. There is "no timeframe" for the possible move, he said.

Parts of Virgin Group Ltd, the parent company of London-based Virgin Atlantic, may be sold to the public, the UK's Times newspaper reported on August 21, citing an interview with Chief Executive Officer Stephen Murphy.