Virgin Atlantic is refusing to pay landing fees to airports operator BAA until an inquiry into the disruption at London Heathrow caused by last month's severe winter weather is completed in March.
Runway closures at Heathrow as a result of December's snowfall led to a significant backlog of flights at the airport.
"We have written to BAA this weekend to advise them that we are withholding our fees from the airport operator until its inquiry into the snow enforced runway closures in December is completed," says Virgin Atlantic in a statement.
"Despite the airport operating conditions being way beyond our control, Virgin Atlantic is taking responsibility by paying out millions to customers that suffered disruption to their Christmas travel plans.
"We are keen that BAA also feels a strong sense of accountability to the consumer and that minds are focused on delivering a fully independent and robust inquiry by its deadline in March."
A BAA spokesman says it is "too early to say" whether the airport operator will take any action against Virgin for withholding the fees.
In a statement, BAA says: "We will work with airlines during the Begg inquiry. Meanwhile, Heathrow's conditions of use do not provide any basis for Virgin Atlantic or any other airline to withhold airport charges."
The spokesman points out that Heathrow "was not the only airport to close during the winter disruption", and lists Gatwick and New York JFK as other airports affected by the snow.
He also adds that landing charges pay for airport improvements, "including many to [Heathrow] Terminal 3, where Virgin flies from".
BAA announced last month that it had opened a formal inquiry into its response to the recent severe weather. The results of the inquiry, which is being headed by independent non-executive director David Begg, will be published in March.
So far, there is no indication that other airlines are planning to take similar action to Virgin against BAA.
"From our point of view, we're BAA's largest customer and we have regular discussions with them about a range of issues," says a spokesman for British Airways.
"Overall, we would hope that if there was more snow at Heathrow this winter there would be less disruption to our customers than there was last time."
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
