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. (Reporting by Sam Tobin; editing by William James)