Delta CEO Ed Bastian criticizes Heathrow's terminal shake-up plans
Virgin Atlantic's anger over Heathrow's terminal shake-up now has heavyweight backing from Atlanta. With Ed Bastian joining the fight, the airport faces mounting pressure to rethink its plans.
Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian has sharply criticized plans to separate the carrier from its joint venture partner Virgin Atlantic at London Heathrow Airport. In a LinkedIn post, Bastian described the proposals as "short-sighted, deeply disappointing and bad for airline consumers."
The intervention marks a major escalation in the dispute over Heathrow's future terminal arrangements. It follows a series of strongly worded statements from Virgin Atlantic executives and the airline's founder, Sir Richard Branson.
Under the proposals, Delta would relocate from Terminal 3 to Terminal 4 in 2028. The move would end its arrangement alongside Virgin Atlantic, which is set to remain at Terminal 3.
"For more than a decade, our airlines have served millions of customers through our co-located operation in Terminal 3, offering travelers convenient connections, premium amenities and access to an expanded global network," Bastian wrote.
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Tags: airlines, business travel, delta air lines, heathrow, jet stream, virgin atlantic