I've tried to be balanced here, but you really know a debate on PPrune has hit the gutter when someone is quoting a Simpleflying article as a definitive source. Surely you know better, and I think you do! Both the article and what airsouthwest has quoted above are talking rubbish. The Heathrow slots are owned by BA but held by Flybe in perpetuity under the terms of the IAG/bmi remedy commitments given to the EU, unless Flybe now voluntarily give them back to BA or default on their usage.