Virgin Atlantic boss slams Heathrow over terminal reshuffle
The boss of Virgin Atlantic has ramped up his attacks on Heathrow airport’s operator, warning its “mindless” planned terminal reshuffle will hit travellers and the UK economy. Corneel Koster told an aviation conference that Heathrow’s recent decision to move Delta Airlines, which has a joint venture with Virgin, to a different terminal showed it had [...]
Virgin Atlantic's CEO, Corneel Koster, has harshly criticized Heathrow Airport's operator for their planned terminal reshuffle, arguing it will harm travelers and the UK economy. Koster lambasted the decision at an aviation conference, stating that Heathrow's move showed "no regard for competition and no regard for consumers." He alleged that the airline operator attempted to slip the change through before the Budget, hoping it would go unnoticed.
The CEO claimed that Heathrow's decision to split Virgin Atlantic and Delta's terminals will create longer connection times for passengers and complicate logistics. Koster estimated that the change could increase connection times by up to 50%, potentially extending them to a minimum of 90 minutes and adding significant stress for travelers.
Koster's criticisms come shortly after Heathrow announced plans to separate Virgin Atlantic and Delta's operations, with the airlines each operating from different terminals. The joint venture, established in 2014, has been a significant partnership for both carriers, with Delta owning a stake in Virgin Atlantic.
The aviation regulator's chief executive, Rob Bishton, acknowledged the complaints raised by Virgin Atlantic and stated that the watchdog would consider them if escalated. Bishton emphasized the seriousness of the issues at hand, saying the Civil Aviation Authority would play its role in addressing the concerns.
Heathrow Airport defended its proposed changes, stating that as travel demand at the airport continues to grow and capacity remains limited, these initiatives will unlock more capacity, reduce congestion, improve passenger flow, and keep costs down. The airport confirmed its commitment to working closely with its airline customers as the changes are implemented.
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