Sir Richard Branson has criticized Heathrow Airport’s decision to relocate Delta Air Lines from Terminal 3 to Terminal 4, warning that the move could undermine competition and lead to higher airfares. The shift, scheduled to take effect in 2028, will separate Virgin Atlantic and its partner Delta, which have operated together exclusively from Terminal 3 since 2016.
Branson, who retains a 51 percent stake in Virgin Atlantic with Delta owning 49 percent, described the airport’s plan as “short-sighted” and detrimental to customers and the UK economy. He argued that the partnership had provided passengers with increased choice, better connections, and lower fares. According to Branson, splitting the two airlines across different terminals could weaken their competitive position, potentially benefiting rivals such as British Airways.
Virgin Atlantic and Delta’s joint venture seeks to compete directly with British Airways on many routes, with Virgin facing BA on approximately 92 percent of its services. Branson cited analysis from consultancy Bradshaw Advisory indicating the competition between Virgin Atlantic and British Airways has contributed to a 21 percent reduction in economy fares. He maintained that separating the partners would hinder growth, reduce customer choice, and increase costs, describing the decision as “ill-judged and short-sighted.”
The airport’s decision follows a comprehensive review of terminal occupancy, conducted once in a decade, aiming to improve operations as demand continues to rise. In addition to Delta, Heathrow plans to move British Airways’ partners Finnair and Japan Airlines from Terminal 3 to Terminal 4. Airport officials say these changes will create capacity for 2.4 million additional passengers annually, alleviate congestion, improve passenger flow, and help control costs.
A Heathrow spokesperson emphasized that 80 percent of the airport’s airlines support the terminal reconfigurations. The representative stated the moves are necessary due to growing travel demand and ongoing capacity constraints, claiming they will ultimately benefit passengers by enhancing efficiency and maintaining affordability.
Virgin Atlantic’s chief executive Corneel Koster strongly opposed the plan, particularly on the impact to transfer times. He pointed out that moving Delta to Terminal 4 would force passengers transferring between Virgin Atlantic and Delta to endure longer connection times, increasing from 60 minutes to at least 90 minutes. This is because passengers would need to take a bus between terminals and undergo additional security screening, adding inconvenience and potential delays.
Koster said the arrangement ran counter to global airline and airport practices, criticizing Heathrow for breaking up an integrated joint venture between two closely linked airlines, especially when one is home-based. He called the proposal “completely irrational at best,” arguing it jeopardizes passenger experience and undermines a successful partnership model.
As Heathrow prepares for these changes, the debate highlights tensions between capacity management and airline competition, with passenger convenience and fare levels now central to the controversy.