Little Red leased out?

According to  The Sunday Times  Virgin Atlantic is to lease out two pairs of valuable Heathrow take-off and landing slots to another airline while it awaits its new fleet of Boeing 787s. 

Virgin Atlantic said it does not currently have the aircraft to fill the slots, but plans to use them eventually as it expands.

CEO Craig Kreeger is joining Ed Bastian, President of partner airline Delta, for a press briefing in London on 3 December, and a week later is Guest of Honour at the Aviation Club.  It is likely that the situation will become clearer by then.   The question has been raised as to any airline wanting the openings for just a short term.

The other slots freed by Little Red’s demise, used for Aberdeen and Edinburgh services, will technically have to be returned to British Airways as they were part of a European regulatory deal following BA’s takeover of BMI.  If another airline were to signal an interest in the routes the Competition Commission would have to take a look at the situation.  easyJet’s Caroline McCall did not say no to Heathrow when announcing the airline’s full year results. (See  easyJet charges on  in this issue). easyJet operates into virtually every major airport in Europe with the exception of Heathrow.   www.virgin-atlantic.com/gb/en/the-virgin-experience/little-red.html

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