Branson tells BA: We can do short-haul
Sir Richard Branson has brushed aside claims by Willie Walsh, head of BA parent International Airlines Group, that Virgin Atlantic has no experience of operating short-haul flights.
Virgin Atlantic is hoping to pick up slots at London Heathrow which BA must give up as a condition of its purchase of BMI.
The slots will come with a requirement to provide services from Scotland to Heathrow.
Answering Walsh’s claim that Virgin Atlantic has no experience of operating short-haul services, Branson said, “If you have flown on Virgin America or Virgin Australia you have had a taste of what Virgin short haul will be like.
"We have al lot of experience building domestic airlines. We have 200 short-haul aircraft.”
Virgin Atlantic last week launched four-weekly services to Vancouver from Heathrow
At the launch, Branson said expansion of Virgin Atlantic – 49% owned by Singapore Airlines – was not being restricted by lack of cash and the airline would choose its partners carefully.
“We are a fussy bride," he told reporters. "But we are working well with Singapore Airlines. We have a great relationship.”
Ian Jarrett
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