From a traffic point of view:
BA has approx 42% slots at LHR which is about 3900 Air Transport Movements per week, BMI 12% with about 1100, Lufthy 4.5% with about 416, Virgin 3.5%, Air Lingus 3%. SAS 3%, American 2.3% and then Iberia on 2.1% with 196 (not sure if this includes clickair which wont be much more)
Given that BA have another 51 coming from a deal with BMI for BMED slots in 09 for £30M it would be far cheaper for them to buy the 196 slots from Iberia and simply codeshare to Spain or allow Iberia to put on bigger aircraft to run all flights to Spain (thus allowing BA to not have to fly from T3 (once 757's have gone) and use the slots it has for MAD and BCN flights on something else........far cheaper than merging with Iberia just for slots at LHR.
Having said that I thought (from whats been said) the deal is to ultimately save costs by operating from one head office and removing any staff duplication, increased buying power reducing in lower fees for purchasing across the board (new planes, fuel....i could go on), one "executive" club to operate, and in terms of flights - BA codeshares and routes passengers on Iberias lucrative and extensive South American routes, Iberia codeshares and routes passengers via BA's North America routes.
Last edited by uklad007; 27th Mar 2009 at 03:23.