UK's Virgin Atlantic to debut A330neo ops in early 4Q22

Airlines slam Heathrow 2023 interim price cap

British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and airline community representatives have slammed as too high, an interim 2023 London Heathrow passenger charge price cap imposed by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) which came into effect on February 1. Still, the airport argues the charge is too low and puts pressure on Heathrow’s ability to deliver passenger services.

The GBP31.57 pounds (USD38.19) interim price cap – up from GBP30.19 (USD36.51) - is calculated on projected passenger numbers for 2023 and represents the amount Heathrow charges airlines per passenger.

In a statement, the UK CAA said the interim price cap for 2023 replaces a one-year holding cap that was put in place in 2022, and which expired at the end of 2022. “It is required to protect the interests of consumers in the short term as our final decision and licence modifications for a five-year price control will not be made until later in 2023.”

Heathrow has asked for the cap to be raised to GBP41.95 (USD50.63) per passenger...

UK antitrust body delays Korean Air/Asiana merger decision

The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has said it needs more time to make a decision about the Korean Air merger with Asiana Airlines. In a January 26, 2023, statement - the date the antitrust body was due to make a decision, the CMA said it would now decide by March 23.

The issue at hand is whether the CMA will accept undertakings provided by Korean Air after saying in mid-November that it had serious reservations about the proposed merger. However, by the end of that month, the airline had provided the CMA with a series of undertakings that included making slots available at London Heathrow and Seoul Incheon to Virgin Atlantic to allow it to start flying on the UK-South Korea country pair or facilitate entry by other carriers. At the time, the CMA said these undertaking lessened their concerns about the merger causing a lessening of competition.

However, in its statement, the CMA now says that "the undertakings involve the approval by the CMA of a proposed remedy taker...

Virgin Atlantic fined $1mn for transiting Iraqi air space

The US Department of Transportation (DOT) has fined Virgin Atlantic (VS, London Heathrow) USD1.05 million for flying into restricted airspace over Iraq.

According to a DOT order issued on January 17, Virgin Atlantic Airways violated the US Code 49 Section 41301 when it entered restricted air space over Iraq on a significant number of codeshare flights operated under the Delta Air Lines (DL, Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson) "DL" designator code between the UK and India between September 16, 2020, and September 16, 2021.

Asked for comment, a Virgin Atlantic spokesperson said: “As soon as we were made aware of this compliance issue by the DOT, our codeshare flight routings were immediately corrected. We have thoroughly reviewed and strengthened our systems and processes. The safety and security of our aircraft, customers and crew was never compromised at any point and remains our highest priority.”

The DOT said Virgin Atlantic's actions had been a transgression of a NOTAM (notice to airmen) issued by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on March 12, 2020, which effectively prohibits...

Air India to commence London Gatwick flights in late 1Q23

Air India (AI, Mumbai International) will add another UK destination to its network ahead of the 2023 Northern Hemisphere winter, announcing the start of flights between London Gatwick and Amritsar, Ahmedabad, Goa Dabolim, and Kochi International from March 26, 2023. According to an Air India statement, B787-8 aircraft will operate thrice weekly roundtrip frequencies across all four routes where the airline will enjoy sole operator status.

"This is part of the airline’s ongoing endeavour to spread its wings on the international aviation map, hence, increasing its market share on international routes," reads the statement. "The robust enhancement of operations is one of the major pillars of Air India’s transformational roadmap."

Air India presently flies to Birmingham, GB from Amritsar and Delhi and London Heathrow from Amritsar, Delhi International, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Hyderabad International, Goa, and Kochi. Four other airlines - British Airways, Air Canada, Vistara, and Virgin Atlantic, also offer scheduled passenger flights between the two countries. According to ch-aviation capacities...