Virgin Atlantic takes on BA in Britain

Virgin Atlantic will go head-to-head with rival British Airways on routes between London and Manchester next year after unveiling plans to make its first foray into the British short-haul market.

The airline, founded by serial entrepreneur Richard Branson in 1984, announced plans to operate three daily return flights from London’s Heathrow to Manchester airport in northwest England from March 2013, providing competition to BA’s short-haul service.

Virgin Atlantic claims that BA, part of IAG, operates a monopoly on the Heathrow to Manchester route after its takeover of UK carrier BMI this year.