Branson woos Delta chief for US carrier

Sir Richard Branson is in final discussions with Fred Reid (pictured), president and chief operating officer of Delta Airlines, about the vacant post of chief executive of Virgin USA, the British entrepreneur's new low-cost carrier.

The appointment of such a senior figure in the US airline industry, once tipped as the next chief executive of Delta, would be a coup for Sir Richard, who has been keen to set up a US airline for the past five years.

It is also an indication of how far momentum in the US is moving from legacy airlines to low-cost carriers. Virgin USA could begin operations early next year.

More from the Financial Times