Virgin Atlantic Boss Claims British Airways Failed To Meet Challenge On Heathrow Slots

Richard Branson today claimed victory in the long-running debate with British Airways over the availability of slots at Heathrow airport.

Following repeated claims by BA that slots are available to competitors who ish to operate services to and from the US Richard Branson challenged BA to make good on that claim.

BA was invited to provide ten pairs of slots at Heathrow. Virgin Atlantic offered to pay £2 million to charity for each pair. In the event that BA failed to do so Virgin suggested that BA should pay £2 million per pair, £20 million in all, to charity.

The deadline passed on Friday 14 December with BA failing

to supply even one pair of slots.

Branson then wrote to Lord Marshall, Chairman of BA, and said:

"I am saddened but certainly not surprised that, having reached the end of the challenge period, British Airways has not been able to supply Virgin Atlantic with even one pair of slots at Heathrow.

"It does, however, settle our argument once and for all. Both BA and

American Airlines have disingenuously claimed that competitors can easily find slots at Heathrow for services to and from the US.

"The truth is that slots are not available at Heathrow for transatlantic services. Having failed to rise to this challenge I do not expect to hear BA or AA repeating this claim ever again.

"By my reckoning having failed the challenge BA should now pay £20m to charity in time for Christmas. I look forward to hearing that you have."

http://news.airwise.com/stories/2001/12/1008593693.html