????維珍航空離開布蘭森能不能繼續運轉也很難說。維珍大西洋航空有很多讓旅客津津樂道的特色，比如頭等艙旅客有專門的接機服務，而且它對旅客的行李限重也很慷慨，這無不符合布蘭森天馬行空的性格和對傳統的蔑視，因此維珍才會有那么多死忠的顧客。沒有了布蘭森，維珍航空也許一樣難逃破產的命運。

????英國航空收購BMI之后，布蘭森曾表示，維珍大西洋航空或許也應該加入某個大型航空聯盟，但這并不意味著它要放棄對公司的控制權——更不用說把他的機位讓給來自某些亞特蘭大州的美國人。綜上所述，達美航空最好只是邀請維珍大西洋航空加入天合聯盟，把錢省下來干點別的事，比如維持好它新建的精煉廠，或是買一些急需的新飛機。

????譯者：樸成奎

????It is hard to see Virgin operate without Branson at the helm. The airline's perks and amenities, from its complimentary chauffeured pickups for upper class passengers to generous baggage allowances for passengers in coach, fits with Branson's whimsical disregard for convention which has made Virgin such a hit with its fiercely loyal customers. Without Branson at the helm, Virgin might as well just liquidate.

????Branson has said that Virgin would probably need to join one of the big airline alliances in the wake of BA's takeover of BMI, but that doesn't mean he is about to give up control of the airline – let alone just give away landing slots to some Americans from Atlanta. Given all this, it would be best if Delta just invites Virgin to join Skyteam and saves its money for other things, like maintaining?its new refinery?or for buying some badly needed new jets.