max nightstop,
If MAN ATC were to phone us (TC Heathrow or TC Traffic Manager) up, we could give them a very accurate picture of current delays, and a sensible forecast for the next 45 mins or so (that's about as far as the EAT PC looks ahead) assuming nothing happens to affect capacity in the interim.
As for a slot at BOV, if you're represented in The Airline Group surely you'll get no delay
Having a pool of traffic in the holds is the best way for us to maximise the landing rate. For one it allows us to group similar types and keep the final topped up all of the time.
It's not the easiest thing to try and explain in detail on paper so I won't, come in and have a look sometime instead.
WF.