Virgin Atlantic President Richard Branson said he was prepared to spend heavily to try to prevent a planned tie-up between British Airways, American Airlines and Spain's Iberia.

"If it is approved we believe Virgin Atlantic will be damaged and any smaller carriers on these routes," Mr Branson said yesterday, adding he would spend "millions of dollars" in a bid to block the tie-up.

"A lot of carriers are keeping quiet as they think that if BA and AA are effectively allowedto merge then anybody will be allowed to merge," he said.

Mr Branson said he had no plans to take part in any industry consolidation, other than if bmi came up for sale.

British airline bmi is likely to be taken over next year despite the possibility it will make a loss this year, as a host of rivals eye its portfolio of Heathrow slots, analysts have said.