Virgin Atlantic provided BAA, which ran both Heathrow and Gatwick on behalf of the UK government, and the Secretary of State for Transport granted permission. The Civil Aviation Authority also transferred two pairs of unused landing slots that British Airways held at Tokyo's Narita Airport to Virgin to let it increase its frequency between Heathrow and Tokyo from four to six weekly round trips, making it easier for Virgin to compete against British Airways. The then-chairman of BA Lord King called the CAA's decision, which the government had endorsed, "a confiscation of his company's property". In the year to October 1993, Virgin
Vancouver International Airport area and consists of 20 gates: E76 to E88 and E90 to E96. Gates E76 to E78 can accommodate smaller wide-body aircraft and are swing gates which used to be used for international departures (as gates D76 to D78). Gate E85 is a bus gate for remote stands. Gate E95 accesses ground-loading stands 95A and 95B. The majority of US-bound flights operate from Pier E; the only exceptions are flights from an international origin (Cathay Pacific's Hong Kong—Vancouver—New York and Philippine Airlines' Manila—Vancouver—New York flights) and flights that depart after 8:30 p.m. (mainly seasonal eastbound red-eye flights). The Airport South