What I think will be bmi's salvation is a coherent route structure, this can only happen if schedules with their parent Lufthansa are co-ordinated. I do not think they can survive as a stand alone airline. BA is sucessful because its shorthaul traffic feeds their longhaul network. I believe this is why Virgin is keen for a tie up, the two airlines together would be much stronger in partnership. In the past Bishop & Branson where at each others throats, maybe now it is possible for a re-appraisal.