As said in the rather blue place I repost here
IAG could very easily acquire the brand without any dealings with BA - They are after all a holding company with brands operating in variety of market segments, including two legacies within the same global alliance, a lower cost un aligned TALC and European carrier serving the island of Ireland a transnational flexible fares carrier (with a rather poor reputation) operating from Spain Italy and The Netherlands. Plus a virtual brand in Level with differing service goals in Spain France and Austria