Virgin Atlantic said on Wednesday that it will challenge IAG’s (LON:IAG) dominance at Heathrow by adding new routes.
Virgin Atlantic hopes to serve up to 84 new destinations once the third runway is complete. These will be in the UK, Europe and across the globe and are a fourfold increase on its 19 long haul destinations from Heathrow in 2020.
Of the new 84 destination planned, 12 are domestic, 37 are European and 35 are global.
The plans will also include unserved destinations such as Kolkata (India), Jakarta (Indonesia) and Panama City (Panama).
“IAG currently dominates Heathrow Airport, controlling more than half of the total capacity. A new report published last week found one in four passengers flying from the airport – 18.5 million people – have no choice but to fly with that airline group,” Virgin Atlantic said in a company statement.
“Never has the need for effective competition and choice at Heathrow Airport been more evident than during this summer of disruption, which has brought misery for tens thousands of travellers,” Virgin Atlantic CEO Shai Weiss provided a comment.
Indeed, many travellers faced interference to their summer holiday plans this summer with the disruptions caused.
“Britain, and those who travel to it, deserve better than this. Air passengers need a choice and Virgin Atlantic is ready to deliver when Heathrow expands,” added Shai Weiss.
“Heathrow has been dominated by one airline group for far too long. The third runway is a once in a lifetime opportunity to change the status quo and create a second flag carrier. This would lower fares and give real choice to passengers, as well giving Britain a real opportunity to boost its trade and investment links around the world.”
“Changing the way take-off and landing slots are allocated for this unique and vital increase in capacity at the nation’s hub airport will create the right conditions for competition and innovation to thrive.”
Shares in International Consolidated Airlines Group (LON:IAG) were trading at -0.18% as of 13:13 BST Wednesday.