02 September 2008

Virgin confirms interest in joint bid for Gatwick

Virgin Atlantic is considering joining a consortium to make a bid for Gatwick Airport if BAA is forced to sell it.

In a statement today, the airline said: Ã¢â¬ÅâœIf the Competition Commission recommends the sale of Gatwick Airport, then Virgin Atlantic would be interested in possibly bidding to run it, as part of a consortium.

Ã¢â¬ÅâœWe would be able to bring our expertise in customer service into any ownership group. We are a shareholder in the air traffic control company NATS, which we part own with other airlines, and could imagine a similar scenario in terms of Gatwick's ownership.

Ã¢â¬ÅâœIt is very early days in terms of Gatwick's future ownership and so we cannot comment on parties we may have held talks with but we are watching developments closely.Ã¢â¬~

Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson told the Telegraph the airline was Ã¢â¬Åâœopen to being courted by anyone who is interested in bidding".

He said he has already had discussions with several potential bidding partners.

Manchester Airport Group and investment groups from Australia and Germany have already expressed interest in buying any UK airports sold by BAA.

The Competition Commission recently published an interim report warning that BAA may have to sell three of its UK airports, including two of its three London airports.

BAA has already ruled out selling Heathrow.

The Competition CommissionÃ¢â¬â¢s full report is due to be published next year.

By Bev Fearis

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Your Comments (2)

Airline Innovation and Now Terminal Innovation? Great

Virgin showed BA how to treat passengers when it first took to the air and has continued to introduce innovations ever since. Imagine what Branson could bring to passengers terminal experiences! I believe BAA should be divested of ALL its airports and then be allowed to bid on the properties when auctioned off - with a limit of one airport per entity. Only this would ensure an equitable sale and obviously benefit passengers. BAA has demonstrated that it can't handle Heathrow, let alone other airports so it is only proper that all BAA airports be put in play. Slot allocation can be handled by lottery draw based on existing allocation ratios.

By Jon Hewson, Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Is Gatwick ready for a Virgin?

Before people rush in to join a Virgin led consortia, just have a long hard look at loss making Virgin Railways, first of all. Its not just about marketing flair and painting everything Red, you need a complex engineering base, technical administration, mass moving people skills and how are rival airlines -clients of the airport - going to react knowing that Virgin running the airport might well (heaven forfend) manipulate slots and facilities to favour its own airline or any concession branded Virgin over the rest? No this is more about our Richard than any serious move on Gatwick, in my humble opinion , I would be delighted to be proven wrong....p.s. only got a dollar for &#pound;1.73 yesterday...Royal Carib are gouing to have to turn me upside down and shake extra hard to get the cash out of me next week on the Independence of the Seas! No doubt they will...bring it on! Cheers Julian Bray

By JULIAN BRAY MCIPR,NUJ,MMC, Tuesday, September 2, 2008