Their fractious relationship dates back to the 1990s but the latest tactic by British Airways in its battle with Sir Richard Branson seems to have been influenced by a much earlier era.

The Virgin Atlantic chairman, who makes a cameo appearance in the latest James Bond film Casino Royale, is somehow missing from the version shown on British Airways flights. In a nifty trick reminiscent of the airbrushing so beloved of former Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, the airline appears to have allowed its passengers to see Sir Richard from the rear as he passes through a security arch at Miami airport. But the scene from the cinema version when he turns round and faces the camera has gone.

Scenes featuring Virgin aircraft also appear to have been affected, with the distinctive tailfin discreetly painted over.

Virgin said the film’s producers had phoned with a request to get an aircraft into Prague, which was masquerading as Miami airport, at short notice. While companies can pay to have their products placed in blockbuster films, this did not apply to Sir Richard or Virgin. The troubled relationship between the two airlines dates back to their legal battles during the 1990s. Hostilities resumed last summer when Virgin was identified as the “whistleblower” that triggered a price-fixing investigation in Britain and the United States.

The decision to cut Sir Richard from the film was taken by BA’s in-flight entertainment team. A BA spokesman confirmed that changes had been made to Casino Royale, adding: “All films are screened. We want to ensure that they contain no material that might upset our customers.”

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