Mickyman. Oh how we have missed you. Unchanged standard MO, I see. Attack posters who actually contribute commentary worthy of our attention, yet limit your own offerings to backbiting and sneering. What motivates you? Is it a jealousy thing?
BTW, LAX_LHR discusses airline industry rumours. He works in a role which gives him access to these. By their nature, some rumours come to fulfilment whilst others fall by the wayside. That is the deal if you read a 'rumours' forum (rumours being the 'R' in PPRuNe). If rumours irk you, then you have chosen to frequent the wrong forum. LAX_LHR, in contrast, is posting in exactly the right place and most readers here understand that rumours come without guarantees. But LAX_LHR gets more right than wrong, and even those new service proposals which do not come to fruition show us the way airlines are thinking. Useful in itself.
In this case, Saudia did apply for slots but they appear to have handed them back for now. That is pretty standard practice in this industry. But it is still of interest to know that they did apply because it shows that Manchester remains in their thinking.
Finally, rest assured that LAX_LHR is a valued contributor on here as he was on the other forum to which you refer. He knows that I have at times held different views than him on certain matters of fact, but we have always debated the issues in a respectful and constructive manner. Perhaps you could consider such an approach if you disagree with him? Or will a "result" for you mean hounding him off the forum? You know he won't stick around if he is subjected to too much flak from the self-important uninformed.