Airline-airport coalition named

The new coalition of the UK's biggest airlines and airport operators is understood to be called the Aviation Foundation.

Virgin Atlantic, British Airways, the Manchester Airports Group and Heathrow owner BAA have said that they are in early talks to set up the group, but it seems they have already given the potential organisation a name. The four aviation companies aim to demonstrate the social and economic benefits of the industry. One ambition is to show that airport expansion is of benefit to the wider economy, though BA boss Willie Walsh recently said that he did not believe a third runway would ever be built at Heathrow.