Virgin Atlantic to launch Heathrow to Manchester flights
VIRGIN ATLANTIC has taken the first step in its plans to start a short-haul network with three daily Heathrow to Manchester flights launching next spring. The carrier, which has vowed to take on British Airways in the short-haul market following its arch rival’s takeover of Bmi, said it would use existing Heathrow slots for the Manchester service. Virgin is also planning to apply for the 12
Heathrow slots that BA is giving up as part of the deal with the European Commission to secure competition clearance to buy Bmi. Manchester is not one of the so-called “remedy slots” that BA is relinquishing, although Aberdeen and Edinburgh are included among these destinations. Virgin said it will be using Heathrow slots which had previously been leased to another airline to fly to Manchester. A spokeswoman added that the move would not be affecting any of its long-haul services. Virgin Atlantic chief executive Steve Ridgway said: “Flying between Heathrow and Manchester is just the start for Virgin Atlantic’s new short-haul operation. We have the means to connect thousands of passengers to our long-haul network as well as to destinations served by other carriers.” The airline will operate flights to Manchester using Airbus A319 aircraft and tickets are already on sale. The 12 Bmi slots being given up by BA include seven daily pairs to be used between Heathrow and either Edinburgh or Aberdeen. There are also five daily slots which have to be used from Heathrow to Nice, Cairo, Riyadh, Moscow and Edinburgh or Aberdeen. The decision on slot allocations is expected to be revealed in December.
IN BRIEF
■ BAA HAS AGREED to sell Stansted after a three-year battle against the UK’s competition authorities. The Competition Commission originally told BAA it must sell Stansted in 2009 but the company launched a succession of unsuccessful appeals to reverse this decision. The last appeal was thrown out by the UK’s Court of Appeal in July.
YOU ONLY LIVE MICE
CORPORATE MEETINGS BUYERS and planners are invited to check out the MICE facilities at Blenheim Palace, by joining an elaborate James Bond-themed educational trip. Blenheim head of sales Paul Liczbinski has teamed up with corporate team-building
AIRLINES Airline summit to tackle payment fraud
The 6th Global Airline & Travel Payments Summit takes place in London on October 23-24. The conference will explore best practices for airlines, travel payment acceptance and fraud prevention. Keynote speakers and panellists include leaders and experts from banks, airlines, security firms, corporate card providers and TMCs. For more information on the summit, visit www.airlineinformation.org
CONFERENCES
Top buyers to debate travel as investment
ACTE AND MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS (UK) are again partnering with Buying Business T
ravel to host a
forum for travel buyers in London on September 18.
The all-day conference, at London’s City Grange hotel, will focus on key issues such as data analysis and changing traveller behaviour.
Keynote speakers include Virgin Atlantic sales boss Paul Wait, Get There’s Guy Snelgar and Simon Carmouche, senior analyst at PI Benchmark.
specialist Spy Games to create the action- filled days on September 6, and October 4 and 9. The palace’s new champagne bar is featured in the latest Bond film, Skyfall, which is out in October. Interested buyers and planners should email pliczbinski@ blenheimpalace.com or call 01993813874.