LONDON, June 11 (Reuters) - Alaska Airlines on Tuesday

lost an appeal in an approximately $160 million trademark case

with Virgin Group, after a London court last year ruled Virgin

was entitled to royalties even though the U.S. airline no longer

uses the Virgin brand.

Virgin units Virgin Aviation TM Ltd and Virgin Enterprises

Ltd successfully argued Alaska is liable to pay a roughly $8

million "minimum royalty" payment every year until 2039.

Alaska Airlines tried to overturn that ruling but the Court

of Appeal in London rejected its appeal on Tuesday.