VIRGINAtlantic has won its second victory over British Airways this winter after being awarded rights to double its frequency to Shanghai.
From summer 2000, Virgin will be able to offer a four-times weekly service on the Heathrow-Shanghai route. It launched twice-weekly flights in May.
BA wanted the new frequencies to start a Shanghai service.
The announcement by the Civil Aviation Authority follows the regulator’s decision earlier this winter to favour Virgin over BA with new Cape Town services (Travel Weekly October 11).
A CAA spokesman said Virgin was chosen for the extra Shanghai frequencies to boost competition with BAto China. BA serves Beijing with three weekly flights.
BA said it was considering an appeal.
Meanwhile, Virgin is to launch a low-cost domestic airline in Australia next June.
n Virgin Atlantic has restructured its sales department following the resignation of head of UK sales Steve Stahlmann.
A newly created position of general manager sales has been created and filled through an external appointment. Virgin has not named the new person.