Branson: I love my airline
Virgin Group chairman Richard Branson has scoffed at "rumours" that the sale of 49% of Virgin Atlantic Airways to Delta Air Lines would end the Virgin Atlantic brand.
Singapore Airlines is in talks over the possible sale of its 49% stake in Virgin Atlantic, and Atlanta-based Delta is being cited as the likely buyer.
Virgin Group has a 51% stake in the carrier.
Branson reacted after International Airlines Group (IAG) CEO Willie Walsh told UK’s The Telegraph that he "can’t see
Delta wanting to operate the Virgin brand because if they do, what does that say about the Delta brand?"
Walsh said Delta primarily wants Virgin Atlantic’s London Heathrow slots.
Branson said on his blog, "Rumours have been spread in the press that I am planning to give up control of Virgin Atlantic and, according to Willie Walsh—who runs [British Airways]—that our brand will soon disappear.
"This is wishful thinking and totally misguided … Virgin Atlantic was my baby 28 years ago when we set up with just one plane.
"Like all children, they never really stop being your babies and Virgin Atlantic is still much cherished … We intend to carry on … for many years to come and, contrary to Mr. Walsh’s hopes, we have no plans to disappear."
In a separate move Virgin Atlantic is to use Aer Lingus planes and staff, branded as Virgin, to operate its flights between Heathrow and Scotland.
A deal was agreed between the two airlines after Virgin took over key Heathrow takeoff and landing slots from British Airways which had to relinquish them to meet competition concerns when it merged with bmi.
Ian Jarrett
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