Virgin Atlantic to ‘soon’ join an alliance: Branson

Virgin Atlantic founder Sir Richard Branson said the airline will likely join an alliance "in the near future", according to a Forbes report. Virgin Atlantic is the last major trans-Atlantic operator to remain outside the three major alliances, which all operate under anti-trust immunity.

"There is likely to be an announcement of an alliance coming very soon," he said. The airline has also confirmed its interest in merging with London Heathrow-based bmi, a Star Alliance member and subsidiary of Lufthansa. The German airline is looking to offload the underperforming unit.