Virgin Atlantic has climbed down from a threat Virgin Atlantic has “agreed reluctantly” to pay overdue landing and parking fees to Heathrow operator BAA.
The airline said last month that to withhold up to £10 million in fees to the airports operator for snow-related disruption in December.
Virgin has now agreed to pay the outstanding amount to BAA but indicated the matter was not closed.
“The current aviation regulatory framework effectively gives BAA carte blanche to decide how to treat its customers, setting underwhelming service quality standards which fail to protect the travelling public,” the airline said.
“As airlines count the costs of the December disruption, the current system of regulation offers very little opportunity for redress or recourse against the airport operator.
“It is clear that this system does not work and Virgin Atlantic has been making representations to the Department for Transport to this effect ahead of the new Airport Regulation Bill, which must make it easier to hold to account monopoly airport operators when they fail to deliver the levels of service that customers deserve.”