Originally Posted by
shamrock7seal
They would definitely NOT be given to BA - the whole point of these slots is that they are to be given to an independent operator for U.K. domestics. If anything they could go to other airlines who presumably would have apply to operate them on domestic services.
Trust Flybe will act promptly with regard to the company sale, if anything - to stop all the rumours about their demise!
SHAMROCK THEY ARE BA (IAG) slots however they are currently leased to FLYBE under the strict terms of the Bmi purchase remedy competition requirements
The terms of use are that the nominated carrier or carriers may request BA relinquish a number of slots for use on routes to Riyadh, Nice, Moscow, Aberdeen , Edinburgh and Cairo.
Todate only two carriers have tried their luck and only on the same two Scottish routes
Under the terms of the original approval of the IAG-bmi deal, the European Commission had demanded IAG release 14 daily slot pairs at London Heathrow in order to facilitate new entry. These comprise seven slot pairs to facilitate new competition between London Heathrow and either Edinburgh and/or Aberdeen and five daily slots to be used between London Heathrow and Nice, Cairo, Riyadh, Moscow, Edinburgh and/or Aberdeen.
To secure grand father rights the operator must complete three years (six consecutive seasons) of operations and even after that may only repurpose the use of the slots on domestic or EU routes or on the Cairo, Riyadh or Moscow routes if they want.They may not use them on any long haul or lease them out without express approval of IAG and competition authorities.
BTW the responsibility for choosing which slot pairs (there are a total of 12 daily pairs available) of which five must be used on the currently dormant international routes or plus the two said domestic rest directly with IAG (BA), so they can if needs be manipulate the offerings if they so choose.
All that’s why they have no book value to FLYBE any time soon.
As an aside BA are also mandated to allow Virgin Atlantic access to the Shuttle services for connecting passengers at very advantageous rates.
Whilst not directly related to the bmi purchase there are also remedial slots available from IAG (BA) to competing carriers on the Boston Miami and even JFK routes under certain circumstances. Delta have used these for Boston and Miami routes from Heathrow though the Miami services have since been terminated and placed in the hands of DELTA UK better know as Virgin Atlantic using VS slots rather than remedial ones.