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Virgin muscles in to the IAG/BMI Takeover… a little late kids?

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Well according to Flight (
http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/virgin-still-aims-for-bmi-despite-preliminary-lhiag-deal-364318/), Virgin and the Bearded one are up to their ususal shenanigans.

Way after the initial agreement between International Airlines Group (IAG) and Lufthansa have agreed in principle to take over  British Midland International (BMI), Virgin Atlantic Airways appears to continuing with it’s bit for the BMI.

Virgin state that:

“we are working with Lufthansa on the next stage of the purchase”

and

“we remain committed to the acquisition of BMI”

Virgin Atlantic is moaning like heck that due to the constraints at London Heathrow and the dominance BA has over the airport in terms of slot control, it would have an adverse effect on competition at Heathrow.

They moan:

“British Airways’ hold over Heathrow is already too dominant and we are very concerned – as the competition authorities should also be – that BA’s purchase of BMI would be disastrous for consumer choice and competition”

So once again, Virgin is late to the party, been dawdling around and wants special treatment. And knowing what is at stake – Virgin will attempt to get this referred to the Competition Commission.

Whilst frequent flyers want to get on and fly, the last thing they need is uncertainty. And Virgin Atlantic  seems to have chucked a waterbucket full of it on us.

Nice.

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GhettoIFE.com will continue to monitor the takeover of BMI by… whoever with very beady eyes.

Comments

  1. Gary says

    Of course they’d like the government to stop British Airways from improving their business operation at Heathrow.

    But they could have, you know, BOUGHT bmi if it was really (a) that valuable to have the slots or was (b) such a threat to their business operation.

    Getting government to intervene is so much cheaper…

  2. Euan says

    I imagine Sir Richard won’t let this one rest but that’s not really a surprise. I can see IAG will offer to offload some slots to keep people happy but even then they will have control of far lower slots (% wise) than AF/KLM/LH all have at their respective hubs in Paris, Amsterdam and Frankfurt.

  3. srptraveller says

    Doesn’t the deal include disposal of Heathrow slots by IAG?

    I imagine this is all posturing to help ensure that IAG give up as many slots as possible

    Bring back Freddie Laker all is forgiven….