Lufthansa and Bmi plough into Heathrow snow row

Lufthansa and subsidiary Bmi have joined Virgin Atlantic in calling for action from BAA following the pre-Christmas closure of Heathrow due to snow and ice.

The German group, which together with its UK offshoot is Heathrow’s second-largest airline customer after British Airways, wants airport owners BAA to suggest ways of making up for the disruption.

A spokesman told the Financial Times: “The airport should make an offer on how to compensate for the delayed reopening.” The airline also wants BAA to explain how it would better handle any future heavy snow.

Bmi said it had “assessed the costs incurred as a result of the snow disruption at London Heathrow and we will now enter into discussions about compensation”.

Bmi declined to put a figure on its damage but BA has estimated the disruption will cost it at least £50 million and Virgin says it would suffer an impact of £10 million or more.

Virgin said yesterday it was holding back landing and parking charge payments due from January 1 until the findings of a BAA inquiry into the snow chaos headed by transport specialist Professor David Begg are revealed by March.

A BAA spokesman reportedly said: “Passengers benefit when airlines and airports collaborate and work together. That is what we are seeking to do through the Begg inquiry. We will not discuss contractual arrangements in public.”

The airports operator is expected to report a financial impact from the snow of between £20 million and £25 million this week.