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Branson, whose Virgin Group controls BA rival Virgin Atlantic, said in a statement that an alliance between BA and American would strangle airline competition on routes between London’s Heathrow Airport and the United States.

“If the proposed merger between BA and American Airlines is allowed to go ahead, then the result for passengers, employees, communities and for fair and healthy competition, would be disastrous,” Branson said.

Virgin Atlantic has asked the U.S. Department of Transportation to reject the proposed alliance, which would allow BA and American Airlines to cooperate on schedules, fares and cost-cutting.

source: Reuters

United Airlines and US Airways are nudging up baggage fees, and analysts expect other carriers to follow.

As of June 10, United Airlines plans to hike its luggage fees by $5 per bag for customers who pay for the service at the airport, charging $20 for the first bag checked and $30 for the second.

Luggage fees and other a la carte charges have quickly become an important source of revenue to U.S. carriers, which are struggling to become profitable. The 21 largest U.S. carriers generated $1.2 billion in baggage fees in 2008, according to the Bureau of Transportation.

source: Chicago Tribune

Moroccan low-cost carrier Air Arabia Maroc launches services from London Stansted today.

Roundtrip flights will operate four times per week between Stansted and Air Arabia Maroc’s hub in Mohamed V International Airport, Casablanca.

Launch flights from Casablanca to Marseille, Brussels, Milan, Lyon and Paris will start on May 10, 12, 14 and 16 respectively.

source: Travelmole

Budget airline Easyjet has asked council officials for permission for its pilots to marry couples on flights.

The Luton-based airline said it hopes to combine marriage proceedings with taking newlyweds on honeymoon.

Easyjet’s Paul Simmons said: “If our request is replied positively, then so-called ‘floating on cloud nine’ would get a new meaning for people in love.”

source: BBC

British Airways said this afternoon that first and business class traffic fell 17.7 per cent last month as its more lucrative customers cut back amid the recession.

Overall, the airline said total traffic for April rose by just 0.9 per cent, as market conditions continued to be “very challenging.”

Economy traffic rose 5.2 per cent, boosted by Easter falling during April this year instead of March, although the seasonal difference did mean fewer premium passengers. Its total load factor, a measure of how full its planes were, fell 2.6 per cent to 78.1 per cent. Cargo traffic was down 14.8 per cent

source: timesonline.co.uk