If you really believe that the Scottish Government are going to just let BA/IAG close down a Scottish airline with out a screaming match
flypuppy, this may well be fair comment, though lets consider Scotland and BA. BA fly LHR, LGW and LCY to Scotland to 3 airports.
On the LHR routes BA will be the sole operators if the acquisition goes ahead. It would seem unlikely that the capacity will be expanded in an overall context, on say LHR Scotland routes. If anythink BA will make the capacity as close a match to demand or current pax numbers overall so as to ensure best use of the limited slots at London.
Back to point, given that in the main BA is the primary carrier and has attractive routes, what will the
PR do, drive passengers to the competition on the main routes to LHR their will be no exact competition, hence what will the passengers do start flying to other London airports instead when LHR is really where they want to go???? Maybe they could do AFWX to LCY and EZY to LGW. Im not convinced that the potential negative
PR will do much harm at all, if this materialises.
On the subject of the who will buy or own bmi, depending on the contract that is in place for bmi staff (or bmir or baby for that matter), will have a bearing on the future.Eg if the contract says 'we reserve the right to move your work to a different country etc in line with the needs of the business' (note down work for bmi etc so dont know the precise details, the employees will). Will these contract details still stand and if so could say pilots be offered say moved to different divisions subject to type rating and need etc.. and have an option to go or not. Not sure that it matters one bit who is said to be buying the company over.
IAG is buying and it will do whatever it likes with the assets when it takes them over. Note also (hate to say it) BA and Willie will make commercial decisions that are right for the financial health of IAG/BA/IB etc. He will give maximum comfort on things like domestic routes, monopoly situation etc until the green light is given to the take over. That makes perfect sense, I cant see him having decided on routes etc until that happens.
Interesting to see that from today I see EI BFS LHR flights now show codeshare with BA on departure screens.... this hasnt happened in the last 4 years.
EI-BUD