NO WAY BA/AA - VIRGIN ATLANTIC STEPS UP CAMPAIGN AGAINST BA/AA ALLIANCE

Virgin Atlantic today says ‘No Way BA/AA’ as it steps up its campaign against the anti-competitive alliance proposed between British Airways and American Airlines.

As a public demonstration of its disapproval, the airline has begun branding all of its 34 aircraft with a slogan that reads ‘No Way BA/AA’ and has launched a multi-million pound advertising campaign to alert the public and British Government to the dangers of the proposal.

Sir Richard Branson, Chairman of Virgin Atlantic Airways, said of today’s action:

“I pledge to the travelling public that we will fight this proposal tooth and nail. I passionately believe that consumers will benefit from more competition across the Atlantic and should not be forced to accept less. BA and AA are applying for anti-trust immunity quite simply because they want to act anti-competitively.

“ If this proposal is given the go-ahead BA and AA will collude to use their dominant position to:

- destroy competition

- raise prices, and

- reduce service.”

The first ad in the campaign will run in broadsheets in the UK from Tuesday 7 August 2001. The airline has a series of ads already prepared for publication in the coming weeks and is planning other media activities. The airline will also step up its lobbying activity with Richard Branson writing today to the Treasury, DTLR and DTI.