Virgin Atlantic lands bmi complaint with regulator

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Late last year, British Airways owner IAG agreed to buy bmi for £172.5 million ($271 million), seeing off rival bidder Virgin in the race to grab loss-making bmi's coveted runway slots at London's Heathrow airport.

In its submission Virgin Atlantic said that if the deal was approved, three key domestic routes - Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Manchester - to and from Heathrow would become a BA monopoly.

It added competition would be eradicated to some popular European destinations and that BA would have the opportunity and the means to increase fares and reduce flights on these routes.

"When BA was left the only operator on the Glasgow to Heathrow route in 2011, fares paid by Scottish travellers rocketed by 34% in six months," Virgin Atlantic president Richard Branson said in a statement.

"This deal will see BA holding more than half of take-off and landing slots at the UK's only major international hub - an airport that has had much needed growth plans forcibly frozen."

The all-cash deal, which requires regulatory approval, would give IAG about 53% of take-off and landing slots at Heathrow, - Europe's busiest airport - which is operating at capacity after plans to build a third runway were scrapped.
IAG currently holds 43.1% of the slots at Heathrow.

"Our planned purchase of bmi is being reviewed by the regulatory authorities and we're confident they will approve the deal," IAG said in a statement.

"Bmi is a massively loss making airline. Selling it to IAG offers the best solution for British consumers and UK plc, securing more jobs than if the airline was broken up and sold-off for its Heathrow slots."

IAG added that it was committed to keeping services from Belfast to Heathrow and increasing flights to Scotland.