Air France-KLM is buying almost a third of Virgin Atlantic, leaving Sir Richard Branson’s parent company, Virgin Group, with a minority stake in the airline he founded. Air France-KLM is taking a 31% stake, worth £220m, in Virgin Atlantic as part of a four-way joint-venture with US partner Delta. Virgin Group’s share will fall from 51% to 20%, while Delta will retain 49%. Sir Richard said he would remain “very much involved” after the deal. He said in an open letter that the new joint-venture would be “extremely beneficial” to the airline, customers and the brand, and recalled key moments in Virgin Atlantic’s history, striking a valedictory tone. Jean-Marc Janaillac, chief executive of Air France-KLM, said the deal would give customers “even more choice between Europe, UK and the United States via twelve hubs on both sides of the Atlantic”.