Letter: Blessed Virgin

Sir: I was interested to read Michael Harrison's comments today on the British Airways-Virgin Atlantic 'dirty tricks war'. I wish to point out, however, that Virgin's use of the 747s to evacuate hostages from Iraq in September 1990 could not have been a calculated publicity coup by Virgin.

Rather, I am sure the British government would have realised that many hostages, myself included, would have refused to travel on BA in view of our experience on BA 149 in Kuwait.

Yours faithfully,

BARRY K. MANNERS

London, W14

11 January