Tag Archives: Aer Lingus

Virgin reveals brand for new domestic services

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Virgin reveals brand for new domestic services

By Phil Davies

Virgin reveals brand for new domestic servicesVirgin Atlantic’s new UK domestic services will operate under the name Little Red.

Flights start on March 31 from Manchester with three flights a day to Heathrow followed by six a day from Edinburgh on April 5 and three a day from Aberdeen on April 9.

Services will operate to Heathrow Terminal 1 with bus transfers to connect with Virgin Atlantic long-haul routes to long-haul destinations from Terminal 3.

Fares start at £99 as Virgin seeks to compete head-to-head with rival British Airways on UK routes for the first time.

Virgin won key take-off and landing slots at Heathrow after Bmi was taken over by BA parent International Airlines Group and willI  use leased Aer Lingus aircraft.

BA runs around 52 daily flights between Heathrow and Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow together with services to Scotland from Gatwick and London City airports.

Virgin founder Sir Richard Branson said that Little Red will “go head-to-head with BA to provide domestic flights that deliver Virgin Atlantic’s rock and roll spirit as well as real value for money.”

– See more at: http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/Articles/2013/03/01/43318/virgin+reveals+brand+for+new+domestic+services.html#sthash.AHIsi4NB.dpuf

Walsh denies IAG interest in Aer Lingus

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Walsh denies IAG interest in Aer Lingus

Sep 19, 2011 14:40PM GMT

International Airlines Group boss Willie Walsh has confirmed an interest in both BMI and TAP Air Portugal but has ruled out a bid for Aer Lingus.

He said he wanted to create £400 million in “synergies” within five years at British Airways and Iberia parent IAG through cost savings and new revenues and wanted to turn the company into a “multinational, multibrand” similar to other sectors.

But Walsh said he was not interested in Aer Lingus because of its £350 million pension deficit. Speculation that IAG may swoop for Aer Lingus emerged last week when both its main shareholders, including Ryanair, signalled their willingness to sell.

Speaking at the London Irish Business Society in London, Walsh said IAG was in acquisition mode,The Guardian reported.

But he said it was not going to be “rushed” or “driven by predetermined deadlines” but “by getting the right airlines at the right time for IAG. We’ve made no secret of our interest in BMI and no secret in the merit of looking at TAP.”

Walsh also attacked the Government’s decision not to go ahead with a third runway at Heathrow because of environmental concerns as “laughable” when countries such as China were building many new airports.