Dave Clark Fife
Implicit in what appears to have been said, is that they will use LHR slots for more profitable routes to the Middle East and Africa, thereby implying that other routes ie domestics will be reduced or cut and feed long haul traffic from the regions to other LH/Star hubs, yet retain a presence in domestic flights from the regional airports.
The loads from the likes of EDI/GLA/MAN/BHD/ABZ that are going long haul are bound to be small, so if you feed other European hubs and you are using LHR slots for new routes it would mean most if not all feeder traffic into LHR would be at end, i think the days of British Midland bases at these out station is at an end.
I cannot see BAA being pressured to change it mind on this, Scotland will still have direct access to LHR with BA from GLA/EDI/ABZ, I doubt that BA will join bmi in its case against BAA over these charges, of more interest is what routes to London, other than LHR will bmi be doing and who will fly them, bmi, baby or Regional