This is indeed a strange development by AerLingus given that they want to grow at LHR. Given that BA are a growing challenge now that they are frequent on DUB LHR and are keeping the pressure on on the BHD LHR route, if EI are keen to offload a slot, I would have imagined that BA would be the last airline they would offer it to. Plenty of big airlines out there who would be less sensitive to the timing, e.g. Etihad, Emirates, Qatar. Given that Etihad have shareholding in EI, surely they would have been the natural choice.
If this is true what is in it for EI, perhaps a BA exit from BHD LHR, and a rekindling of the BA/EI relationship of mutual benefit to all parties.
What about EI doing domestic flying for BA at a lower cost, this would allow BA to reploy some 319/320 to LGW....? Possibly getting carried away here.
