Skippy, I have heard something similar, but that is a rumour that has been circulating for a few months...

Little would surprise me anymore.

Not sure about bmibaby but it looks nearly certain that BA will snap-up the mainline. Anything can happen though, it's getting close!

Still can't see BA being allowed to 'snap up' BMI? The monopolies commission will consider the AA and Iberia tie-up. If it does go through it will be carnage; nothing more than an asset stripping exercise.

For those on mainline i hope it's someone else. Good luck.

Why would they? Fleet renewals needed soon as we all know and it's not official as to what it will be exactly. A bunch of clapped out leased 73X's? Where's the benefit... there isn't any.... Just a brand they won't be able to use.

Baby to Monarch does make sense if the rumours I've heard about the new Monarch plan are to believed. Not for the aircraft, but for the crews.

As for BA going for Mainline. I just can't see it for a variety of reasons. My guess (and it's a mildly educated one) is that Regional is obviously going, Baby will be VERY closely following and the bmi plan will be to slim the company down massively and almost start from scratch. Nothing else makes any sense from a Lufthansa perspective.

Big market for BMI's fleet on the used market, would be a good load to asset strip!

money on bmi brand disappearing end March 2012?
 

If IAG buy bmi the consenus is LHR slost is all that matters. Unfortunately people come a distant second, except perhaps resolving any pension obligations. If I was IAG and bought bmi I'd close it at the end of the current winter season by which time BA would have allocated the slots to other routes.

I have spent some time trying to understand the slot allocation regulations. From what I have found, BMI would have to be bought as a going concern for BA to be allocated the slots. If LH were to try to sell all of the slots then BMI would no longer be an operator at LHR, and would therefore have to return the slots to Airport Co-ordination Limited.

http://www.iata.org/whatwedo/passeng...s/w-slot-g.pdf

7.15 states

Does anyone have a different understanding? If so, I stand corrected.

This thread is now closed and all the new posts are in BMI (! Nov 2011 onwards)

HWB