BA wins fight for new route

British Airways has won the right to start a non-stop flight to Denver from London, while a rival request from Virgin Atlantic Airways for a London-Las Vegas flight has been turned down. The airlines, Britain's two largest long-distance carriers, were competing for the last new route available under the current air treaty between the US and Britain.

The Civil Aviation Authority said in a statement that it chose BA's daily service over Virgin's plan for twice-weekly flights because it would produce greater benefits for users of air services. Virgin Chairman Richard Branson said he might ask the transport secretary to overturn the ruling, calling it "a slap in the face for smaller airlines and a further unwanted boost to the monopolists at BA".