VIRGIN CALLS OFF STRIKE AS BAA THREATENS TO IMPOUND AIRCRAFT

As airport operator BAA threatens to impound aircraft, Virgin Atlantic has ‘reluctantly’ abandoned strike by withholding landing fee payments in protest over the Heathrow snow disruption in December last year. The airline said it was only calling off the strike because it feared thousands of its passengers could be stranded if it continued. “The airline is not prepared to jeopardise thousands of customers’ travel plans in the event that BAA takes action that could ultimately impact on its flying programme,” said Virgin Atlantic. Although BAA denied it had threatened Virgin Atlantic with confiscation of its aircraft, it still stated that