Even I had to chuckle at these comments from the Irish-born CEO of British Airways who obviously has to do some recalculating and spreading a little fear regarding the possibility that DL could end up operating - either via its own name or in partnership with AF/KL as a controlling partner of VS - a decent sized hub at LHR in BA's backdoor.
Willie Walsh: Virgin Atlantic brand could soon be history
The Virgin Atlantic brand could could soon be consigned to the history books, British Airways and Iberia boss Willie Walsh has suggested, with Sir Richard Branson’s UK carrier set to become the latest name to be swept up in the wave of aviation consolidation.
Willie Walsh said the Virgin Atlantic name will likely be scrapped by US giant Delta. Photo: REX FEATURES
Mr Walsh said the Virgin Atlantic name will likely be scrapped by US giant Delta, which is
in talks to buy a 49pc stake in the UK carrier from Singapore Airlines. It is believed negotiations could come to a head as early as this week.
Delta’s European partners Air France-KLM are subsequently expected to buy part of Sir Richard’s 51pc holding in the trans-Atlantic airline he set up in 1984.
Willie Walsh, head of International Airlines Group, argued Delta’s main interest in Virgin will be the UK carrier’s prized Heathrow take-off and landing slots.
“I can’t see Delta wanting to operate the Virgin brand because if they do what does that say about the Delta brand?" Mr Walsh said.
“Delta believe they are the number one airline in the world, so what they would want to do is acquire the slots at Heathrow to enable them to have a strong presence at Heathrow.”
Since a number of VS' slots are not suitable for TATL operations, VS will not be relegated solely to be a TATL airline - but it isn't out of the realm of possibility that DL could operate flights other than to the US under its own colors.... or under Skyteam or joint AF/KL colors .... or retain VS for nonLHR services....or transfer a certain number of VS slots to certain key US airports which DL does not serve to DL so that DL can operate routes under its own colors.
It is also possible that AF/KL could end up operating the short-haul flights within Europe...
but the possibility is very real that DL could operate a hub at LHR just as it does at NRT in a true internationalization of one of the airline industry's most interesting brands....
