BRITISH Midland chairman Sir Michael Bishop will fly to Washington next month to fight for special dispensation to launch US flights next summer.
Sir Michael is arranging to meet US transportation secretary Rodney Slater between June 7-9 to argue British Midland be given a licence for Heathrow-New York flights.
His argument centres round the fact that three US airlines – United Airlines, American Airlines and Continental Airlines – can sell seats between Heathrow and New York, but only two UK airlines, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, operate the route. Continental does not fly from Heathrow but codeshares with Virgin.
British Midland has Civil Aviation Authority agreement to serve New York, but needs the US to alter the UK/US bilateral which would make way for a third UKcarrier on the route.
In a separate move, British Midland is objecting to Go’s application for the right to fly from Stansted to Prague.
British Midland operates nine flights a week from Heathrow to the Czech capital and it wants to add an extra three.
It is arguing that if Go’s proposal is approved by the CAAit would give the BAgroup an unfair advantage on the route as BAalready had a double-daily service between Heathrow and Prague.
The CAA will hold a public hearing into Go’s application next Monday. The hearing starts at 9am in the New Connaught Rooms, Great Queen Street, central London.