In 2010 Richard Branson, chairman of the Virgin Group, announced his intention to form a fourth alliance among Virgin branded airlines (Virgin Atlantic; Virgin America; and the Virgin Australia Holdings group of airlines).[13] Then in September 2011, Branson said that Virgin Atlantic would join one of the existing alliances;[14] this idea was repeated in October 2012.[15] In December 2012, Delta Air Lines purchased Singapore Airlines' 49% stake in Virgin Atlantic for £224 million.[citation needed] Virgin America was absorbed into Alaska Airlines, which joined the Oneworld alliance in 2021.[16][17]