Virgin Atlantic has admitted it remains interested in acquiring rival carrier BMI, almost three years since the pair last held talks.
The news of the airline's interest in its competitor comes after Thursday's decision by the EU to allow the go-ahead of the "open skies" deal which will see any airline on the continent able to fly to any US city and vice versa.
A merger between the pair could be attractive to Virgin Atlantic as BMI is allocated close to 13 per cent of the take-off and landing openings at London's busy Heathrow airport.
"We have always said we are interested in BMI and we will continue to look at it," said Paul Charles, a spokesperson for carrier.
However the airline headed by Sir Richard Branson carefully played down talks of a takeover bid or merger. "We watch developments in the whole industry, not just one airline," added Mr Charles.
Speaking to the Daily Telegraph BMI chairman Sir Michael Bishop denied that his company was a takeover target.
"I've no plans to change the shareholders. People always go on fishing trips but it's business as usual here," he told the newspaper.
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