Virgin Atlantic has signed a deal with an IT services firm that it hopes will create a new online reservation system for its customers.The British airline has agreed a five-year contract with EDS, which will see the firm attempt to implement, among other things, a “self-service ticket change system” – giving passengers more say in how they reserve tickets.The UK’s second largest passenger airline hopes that the system, when it is introduced, will bring “more capability” to the company’s website. Mike Cope, Virgin Atlantic IT director, suggested that the changes will give travellers more control in “making and changing bookings”, silicon.com reported.

He told the technology site: “The new facilities are being implemented at the moment and principal amongst these will be access to self service ticket changes.”

Earlier this month, Virgin Atlantic urged the European Commission to reject the proposed merger between British Airways and American Airlines as the carrier suggested it would “stifle competition” between London Heathrow Airport and the US.