Richard Branson writes for Travel Weekly arguing against the merger:
http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/Articl...er+choice.html
Since then, Virgin Atlantic has prospered by offering choice to long-haul travellers. Sadly, British Midland (now BMI) has not achieved the same success.
There are many reasons for this but in particular, BMI was unable to join up its largely short-haul routes with long-haul flying. Put simply, it could not take people from Aberdeen to Accra, Belfast to Boston or Dublin to Delhi.
And which airline was vehemently opposed to Open Skies which eventually gave BMI access to transatlantic routes?
Step forward Virgin Atlantic.