Major flying flag for BA

JOHN MAJOR has appealed to President George Bush to pass British Airways' controversial purchase of a dollars 750m ( pounds 481m) stake in USAir.

In weekend talks Mr Major raised the issue of the BA offer, which expires on 24 December and cannot go through without US government approval.

Bill Clinton, the President- elect, has said the US must have greater access to British airports as part of any deal to allow BA to take a big stake in financially troubled USAir.