Yeah, right, and of course they were just given the slots at LHR by a man down the market who said he thought they might need them one day ... and the deal they negotiated with LH and SK just happened to work very well in their favour, thank you very much ... and for the record, have a look at the average size of BA's aircraft on shorthaul routes from LHR compared to six years ago - I think you'll find that they have also downsized on just about every route ... and what about the fact that BA is grumbling about the fact that they make more money on the London Eye than they do on shorthaul?
You can call it luck if you like - but when an airline has lasted as long as bmi has in various guises, and seen off as many rivals, I think the intelligent money has to be on shrewd management. Given the fact they have been sat on by VS and BA and all the US majors which has prevented them capitalising on their LHR slots, I think their survival has to be counted as highly significant.