British Airways launches McCarran-London Gatwick service

British Airways launched its thrice- weekly service between McCarran International Airport and London Gatwick Airport on Monday with what was described as a full plane.

However, Silla Maizey, the airline's managing director for Gatwick, did not comment on whether this resulted from discounting. In launching the route, British Airways goes head-to-head with Virgin Atlantic, which began flights in June 2000.

Three years ago, British Airways began service from Las Vegas to its hub at London Heathrow.

At a welcoming ceremony, Maizey said the airline now has more service to the United Kingdom than anyone else, 10 weekly flights compared with nine for Virgin.

But Virgin gained an edge on the ground. Because the British Airways flight was about 15 minutes late, passengers Monday's Virgin flight got in the customs and immigration line first. As a result, the British Airways ceremony started more than an hour late.

Contact reporter Tim O'Reiley at
toreiley@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5290.