The Atlanta based American carrier Delta Airlines, has bid for the 49% stake that Singapore Air holds in Richard Branson's Virgin Atlantic, that may turn into a full bid for the airline Branson established 28 years ago,

Delta, who recently established a partnership with Chelsea football club, is looking to expand it's Atlantic routes, concentrating on Heathrow but needs to partner with an EU airline under European Union rules, to mount a full bid.

However, as a member of the Star Alliance with 27 partner airlines and a close relationship with Air France-KLM, this might not pose a problem.