easyJet e Virgin Atlantic interessate a volare su Mosca

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easyJet takes on BA and Virgin for right to operate Moscow flights
easyJet is going into battle for the first time with both British Airways and Virgin Atlantic as the three airlines jostle for the right to operate lucrative flights between London and Moscow.

In a growing sign that low cost carriers are invading the turf of long haul airlines, easyJet has applied for the rights to offer 14 flights a week between Gatwick and Moscow.

BA already offers 21 flights a week between Moscow and London Heathrow but is seeking to increase its exposure to the lucrative Russian market by operating services from Gatwick.

Virgin Atlantic, which wants to move into mid and short-haul flights, has applied to operate the 14 weekly services from London Heathrow.

Industry sources say the battle for Moscow will prove a real test for the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) as it marks the first occasion that easyJet has gone up against both BA and Virgin on what is traditionally long-haul territory.

EasyJet, run by Carolyn McCall, has jousted with BA once before, over the rights to fly to Cairo, but is yet to launch that service.

Ms McCall has been slowing expanding easyJet's reach outside of Europe and the carrier currently flies as far as Amman in Jordan, giving access to the ancient city of Petra.

The three airlines will supply the CAA with written evidence by September 3 before a hearing is held in early October.

Flights to Moscow will also mark a significant departure for Virgin, which has based most of its services over the Atlantic.

Steve Ridgway, chief executive of Virgin Atlantic, hopes to operate Airbus A330 aircraft to the Russian capital from next year.

The rights have become available following BA's takeover of bmi.

The new routes to Moscow come as easyJet is facing a shareholder showdown over its chairman Sir Mike Rake. The airline's largest shareholder Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou has called an emergency general meeting to be held today to vote on Sir Mike's off the board. Sir Stelios claims Sir Mike is too busy with over commitments.

www.telegraph.co.uk

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Easyjet to fight BA for Moscow route

Easyjet is up against BA for the chance to grab 14 Gatwick-to-Moscow flights a week.

But the Moscow route is long haul and one so-called no-frills airlines (a misnomer of an adjective given that no-frills airlines can be pricier than traditional carriers) haven't fully encroached on - yet. What are Easyjet's chances?

In for the long haul
BA and Easyjet will have to give written submissions to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in September to support their claim to the new 14 weekly Gatwick-to-Sheremetyevo airport slots. These slots were formerly held by bmi, but bmi is suspending its Moscow operations from October.

BA already flies to Moscow's Domodeovo Airport but is also applying for the Sheremetyevo rights. Virgin Atlantic is hopeful for grabbing the Heathrow to Moscow Domodedovo route from January 2013.

Easyjet has begun to edge into some long-haul services and already files to Tel Aviv and Amman in Jordan. So long-haul is not a complete novelty for the airline.

Business class?
"The CAA is always interested in putting new carriers onto routes," Easyjet spokesperson Paul Moore told Routesonline, "and if you look at our recent third quarter performance we achieved a load factor of 89%, so if you compare with other airlines that are applying for these rights we are offering a compelling proposition."

He added: "We would have more impact on this route, we would make it more accessible and more affordable as we have done on other major city pairs such as London-Berlin or Munich and Edinburgh."

But what is not clear is the capacity for business class. Many wealthy Russian won't fly cattle class. BA, for example, offers fully-flat beds on Moscow routes if you fly Club World. Not something you see on any Easyjet flight.

Ryanair has long-haul ambitions. It already owns almost 30% of troubled Aer Lingus - its losses continue to widen - but whose long-haul performance is reasonably strong. An official CAA hearing will commence in October.

money.aol.co.uk

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