Virgin to fly the flag

Richard Branson, head of the Virgin Atlantic airline, has ordered Union Flag logos to be put on his international airline fleet after British Airways scrapped the design.

Designers are working on new plans for 20 jumbo jets and one is expected to be painted on the first aeroplane within weeks, Virgin said. The tycoon received hundreds of letters from the public after BA unveiled its "world images" in a pounds 60m switch from flying the flag, a spokesman said. Only seven Concorde aircraft were saved from having a Union Flag-style logo cut from their tails.