Probably another good reason why BMed is about to be no more.
The slots belong to BMed as do most of the routes which they operate under a BA franchise. Scheduling, routes (outside of agreed BA partner routes) and passenger loads are their OP's department responsibilities.
Can't think of any mainline BA flights that have been flown empty in the recent past except during the security scare!
Typical ill informed BA bashing where the headline reads 'BA shed unprofitable franchise partner who insists on flying empty aircraft to keep LHR slots'.
Guess that doesn't make good enough headlines tho.