But I'm still having trouble realising how, if BA pilots vote "No", bmi can expand at their expense at a slot-constrained airport...unless the BA brand is to be sacrificed? If bmi is not going to be integrated, then are people really saying WW will grow bmi, or whatever the new entity will be called, at the expense of BA?
SR71,
From past experience I believe it would play out something like this...
IAG call for internal tenders for some short haul routes from LHR.
BA Express (BMI), newly created AOC holder (part of BA Group) wins hands down and begins operating with slots owned by BA Group. Plan is to expand BA Express over eg 5 years to expand into BA shorthaul routes through the internal tendering process.
New recruits are given BA Express contracts to sign. Some eg 50% of Left Hand seats in BA Express are ring fenced with BALPA agreement to allow BA SFO's a route to command ( seconded ) before bidding for long haul ( a sweetner to prevent industrial action in the transition ). BA short haul commanders offered longhaul with the newly aquired slots.
BA shorthaul shrinks, BA Express expands.
Eventually as supply of secondees in BA Express dries up commands become available for BA Express FO's, but not able to bid for long haul as BA long haul now recruits seperately for experienced long haul talent.
BA Brand suffers a little in the transition but everything still looks the same on short haul to Jo Public , same uniform, same tail fins, but costs are 2/3 rds, and long haul retains its reputation and expands.
In the end IAG would be very pleased, crew of both companies would be happy but have a nagging sense that they had just been shafted.