Easyjet is to be allowed to operate flights from London to Moscow, in preference to Virgin Atlantic, thanks to a ruling by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

The CAA has announced that Easyjet will join British Airways in being entitled to fly on the London-Moscow route under the bilateral agreement between the UK and Russian
governments. Easyjet plans to operate its Moscow service from London Gatwick, while BA will continue offering flights from London Heathrow. Bmi had been the second UK carrier
flying between London and Moscow under the bilateral deal but it has now stopped operating on the route following its takeover by BA.

Virgin had wanted to fly from Heathrow using the former Bmi slots which are being relinquished by BA, as part of its deal with European regulators to allow the purchase
to go ahead.

Easyjet is set to start its Moscow service in spring 2013 and said it would offer two daily flights on the Gatwick-Moscow Domodedovo route and expected to carry 230,000 passengers in its first year of operation.