Sir Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Atlantic has described the decision to allow IAG to attempt to take over Aer Lingus as “absolutely wrong.”

The billionaire said the competition authorities should not allow the deal to take place and that Aer Lingus should remain independent, even though he acknowledged that Virgin’s now scrapped, Little Red short-haul airline service, once considered buying Aer Lingus.

Speaking to The Telegraph, Branson, who has a long history with British Airways said “The Competition Authority should look very closely at the Aer LIngus deal – it’s just giving British Airways more power more slots.”

Earlier this weeks, Virgin Atlantic Chief Executive, Craig Kreeger told an aviation conference that he expected the IAG/Aer Lingus deal to go through, but he called on the Irish government to help safeguard competition on the key London/Dublin route.

The airline made a submission to the European Commission in April that if IAG purchased Aer Lingus, consumers could face higher prices and reduced choice, particularly on transatlantic services out of Heathrow.