Landing slots firm names new chairman

The powerful aviation body that dishes out lucrative take-off and landing slots to airlines at Heathrow and Gatwick has hired as chairman a board member of the embattled Food Standards Agency, which is currently facing controversy over food contamination.

Airport Co-ordination Ltd (ACL), a not-for-profit group owned by nine airlines including British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, has appointed Jeff Halliwell to help drive growth in running slots at overseas airports. ACL is paid fees by airports for providing services and has a turnover of some £2.3m a year.