Virgin Atlantic confirms Manchester-London Heathrow flights

[TAP-A343]

Virgin Atlantic Airways is making good on its promise to enter the UK domestic market by launching thrice daily flights from London Heathrow to Manchester airport next spring.

The new service, which begins on 31 March 2013, will be operated with narrowbody Airbus A319s. Tickets go on sale today (21 August).

"Flying between Heathrow and Manchester is just the start for Virgin Atlantic's new short-haul operation," says chief executive Steve Ridgway.

"Operating a London to Manchester route will provide an invaluable feed to our existing long-haul network for both business and leisure passengers. It is the perfect introduction to short-haul flights for Virgin Atlantic."

Chairman Sir Richard Branson affirmed Virgin's desire to launch domestic flights after the acquisition of regional carrier BMI by IAG, the parent company of British Airways.

Virgin had lobbied the European Commission (EC) to block the IAG acquisition, arguing that a combined BA-BMI entity would command excessive market share on key domestic routes such as London-Manchester and London-Glasgow.

Though the regulator ultimately disagreed, it moved to allay monopoly fears by ordering IAG to hand over 14 slot pairs at Heathrow.

Two of those slot pairs are already leased to Russian carrier Transaero, while the remaining 12 pairs have yet to be auctioned off. Virgin describes the EC measures as inadequate, but nonetheless says it plans "to apply for all of the remedy slots".

The airline adds that it will use "some of its existing slots to service the Manchester to London route" irrespective of the outcome of the auction.

That comes in contrast to an earlier route launch in July, when Virgin unveiled new flights to Moscow but said they were "predicated on winning the Heathrow slots".

http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/virgin-atlantic-confirms-manchester-london-flights-375632/


Interesting development.

[Peter Kesternich]

Hmmmmm... seems the gloves are finally off between BA and Sir Richard. Will be very interesting to see how this develops.

[SAMRPICS]

Interesting development for Virgin Atlantic, i wonder where they will source the A319's from and which other routes they may start. I can see two or possibly three Scottish routes in the mix and should they join an airline alliance their is potential for more feed from their alliance partners. Without an alliance Virgin wont really be able to build up much of a shorthaul network.

Regardless i look forward to seeing the Virgin A319's here at Manchester.

[dakota]

Well there's 'nowt like jumping in a coffin' after BMI vacated the last one...and look what happened to them but good luck to Virgin and i do hope that passengers will fill up those 319'ers. I do hope that they can become a regional airline for LHR or else it's BA or BA.

[TAP-A343]

Originally Posted by SAMRPICS

I can see two or possibly three Scottish routes in the mix and should they join an airline alliance their is potential for more feed from their alliance partners. Without an alliance Virgin wont really be able to build up much of a shorthaul network.

I wish they would join *A and take the role that bmi had at LHR as a UK/IRL feeder.

[SAMRPICS]

I would very much like to see them in star as well but i suspect that Skyteam could be more likely given that i suspect any alliance which Virgin Atlantic joins will also be joined by Virgin Australia and possibly even Virgin America.
Since Etihad now codeshares with Air France and Virgin Australia i suspect it could be only a matter of time before they are joining Skyteam.
Especially when you consider some of the longhaul codeshares they could pick up to sweaten the deal.

[TAP-A343]

Originally Posted by SAMRPICS

I would very much like to see them in star as well but i suspect that Skyteam could be more likely given that i suspect any alliance which Virgin Atlantic joins will also be joined by Virgin Australia and possibly even Virgin America.
Since Etihad now codeshares with Air France and Virgin Australia i suspect it could be only a matter of time before they are joining Skyteam.
Especially when you consider some of the longhaul codeshares they could pick up to sweaten the deal.

I don't understand how the fact that Etihad codeshares with Air France makes you suspect that it will join SkyTeam.

To start with, SQ owns 49% of VS and that so far didn't lead to VS joining *A.

Besides, Etihad is Air Berlin's biggest shareholder, a oneworld member, and Air New Zealand, a *A member, has a minority stake in Virgin Australia.