Virgin Atlantic ups IAG war with teaser for new routes at Heathrow
Virgin Atlantic has upped the stakes in its face-off with British Airways owner IAG, unveiling a raft of new routes it will launch if it wins more slots at Heathrow airport.
Virgin has said it intends to add 84 destinations to its map in the UK, Europe and internationally when the third runway is complete in 2026.
Read more: Virgin boss urges ‘level playing field’ for airlines at expanded Heathrow
As Heathrow’s flag carrier, British Airways currently holds 55 per cent of take-off and landing slots at the airport.
Virgin is vying to be Heathrow’s second flag carrier, an opportunity it said will open up if the government reforms the way slots are allocated at the airport.
Among the planned new routes are Kolkata, Jakarta, Panama City and Buenos Aires.
In the UK, Virgin said it would fly to cities including Newcastle, Manchester and Edinburgh.
Last week, Virgin commissioned a report by WPI Economics which found that passengers may be paying up to 10 per cent more in fares because it lacked an alternative to flying with BA.
IAG questioned the report, saying Virgin had the opportunity to increase its slot share at Heathrow by buying more, but chose not to do so. It also claimed that Virgin rents out the slots it does hold to other airlines.
Virgin Atlantic chief executive Shai Weiss said: “Never has the need for effective competition and choice at Heathrow airport been more evident than during this summer of disruption, which has brought misery for tens thousands of travellers. Britain, and those who travel to it, deserve better than this. Air passengers need a choice and Virgin Atlantic is ready to deliver when Heathrow expands.
“Heathrow has been dominated by one airline group for far too long. The third runway is a once in a lifetime opportunity to change the status quo and create a second flag carrier. This would lower fares and give real choice to passengers, as well giving Britain a real opportunity to boost its trade and investment links around the world.
“Changing the way take-off and landing slots are allocated for this unique and vital increase in capacity at the nation’s hub airport will create the right conditions for competition and innovation to thrive.”
An IAG spokesperson said: “IAG welcomes competition but the facts speak for themselves. Virgin Atlantic’s lack of Heathrow routes is down to its own corporate strategy.
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“In 2001 British Airways had 36.2 per cent of Heathrow slots. That rose to 52.6 per cent in 2016 as British Airways bought slots at the airport. In 2001 Virgin Atlantic had 2.3 per cent of Heathrow slots – this rose to 3.3 per cent in 2016.
“Virgin had the opportunity to increase its slot share at Heathrow to 19.7 per cent by buying slots but it chose not to do so. The airline has failed to create more competition at the airport – it closed Little Red on domestic routes, pulled off long haul routes and rents out the slots it owns to other airlines to fly.”