Delta-Virgin Atlantic deal is close

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because a deal has not been announced.

Singapore Airlines owns a 49 per cent stake in Virgin Atlantic. Last week, it said it was in talks with a possible buyer for that stake. Delta has been widely reported to be on the other side of those talks.

It's not yet clear exactly what Delta would do with its stake, but Virgin Atlantic is the second-biggest airline at London's Heathrow airport, behind British Airways.

A partnership with Virgin Atlantic would give Delta access either to some of its landing rights, or at least to some of the financial benefits of flying people to London, whether they're on a plane flown by Delta or Virgin Atlantic.

Landing rights are limited at Heathrow, so airlines can't just add more flights there whenever they want. And currently Atlanta-based Delta has fewer flights from the New York area to Heathrow than either American or United, its main US competitors.

"We believe that if Delta were to acquire these slots it would put it on an even footing with American... and United" at Heathrow, airline analyst Ray Neidl wrote in a December 3 note examining the implications of such a deal.

When news of the discussions first surfaced earlier this month, Air France _ a partner of Delta's on trans-Atlantic flights -- was thought to be interested.

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