US Court dismisses Virgin's BA Lawsuit

British Airways today welcomed a decision by a US court to throw out outstanding claims against it from a one billion dollar (£600 million) lawsuit brought by Virgin Atlantic.

British Airways today welcomed a decision by a US court to throw out outstanding claims against it from a one billion dollar (£600 million) lawsuit brought by Virgin Atlantic.

District judge Miriam Cedarbaum dismissed all the remaining claims in the lawsuit first filed six years ago by Virgin.

Virgin had claimed BA had abused its dominant position in the market place by providing unfair incentive schemes, a charge dismissed as baseless by BA.

Five of the eight claims were dismissed initially by the same judge - the remaining allegations were dismissed yesterday after it was ruled Virgin had failed to produce evidence in support of them.

Bob Ayling, chief executive of British Airways, welcomed the court's ruling.

He said: "British Airways is gratified by the considerable care and effort taken by the court.

"Judge Cedarbaum has comprehensively dismissed charges which we have always believed to be baseless and without merit in fact or law.

"This is a great day for everyone at British Airways."

A spokesman for Virgin said the company was "very surprised" by the ruling and said Virgin would appeal.

He said: "We are very confident that, as we proved to the European Commission, we will prove to the US courts that BA has abused its dominant position and has been going against the consumer interest."