The reason why BA is circling round EI's LHR slots is that they are one of the largest slot holders at the airports, beyond them and VS, there is not much left...

EI is slightly better off if they keep then, but they will have to deal with FR, hence I am suggesting that they sell the LHR slots, deal with the FR problem and still make money on LON-IRE...

BA seem to think otherwise....

Besides, they need them to better compete with its rivals in Europe, North America and the Middle East

Of course the real solution lies neither with BA or EI, but with Westmister...

Please stop attributing your thoughts to BA, they are not circling around the slots.

They have signed a deal with FR that in the event of their takover of EI, BA will buy their LHR slots...

The big question is well it ever happen?

BALHR are you a journalist or a student? Nothing you write makes any sense, seems more speculation and fantasy than reality in most cases.

This deal has been confirmed recently

Yes they have done a deal that in the event that FR buy EI that they will buy the slots. That is spotting an opportunity if it comes along, it is NOT circling around the slots. Quite frankly they would have been stupid to pass up such an offer, however equally I am sure they are well aware it may well never happen.

There is a subtle difference.

Just how slight is the benefit to keeping them? I reckon it's a lot more than slight. In addition, selling LHR slots does not deal with the FR problem, in fact it would add to the already considerable cash pile EI have and make it even more of an attractive take over target by people/companies interested in nothing but that cash pile.

Selling the slots to BA would mean EI having no control over them, and who is to say that BA wouldn't reduce services from DUB/ORK/SNN/BHD over time especially if as you say extra slots would mean them better able to compete on other routes?

Finally, just because BA doesn't hold the same % of LHR slots as AF does at CDG does not mean they are short of slots. Don't they already lease some out to other airlines?

My point is that BA are interested in EI's slots and if they felt they had a realistic chance in getting them, they would hence the term "circling"

Currently however its not likely to happen, then again stranger things have happened in this industry...

Sorry to all people interested in EI for the thread drift, this will be my last response to BALHR.

Having spent 30+ years working in international trade and logistics I have a pretty good grasp on what the UK Economy needs. If you really believe that the UK Economy is dependent on BA god help us.

Trade is a two way street the UK needs foreign carriers as well as British carriers at Heathrow. Personally I think we need EI at Heathrow and all the other UK airports it supports over here and long may it do so.

BALHR - There is quite a debate going on the Sheffield City Airport thread that could use your insight.

No. It won't. Stop dreaming.

The only way to deal with the irritant BALHR is deprive him of the oxygen of response. He needs this to convince himself of his importance.

Let him go away and do student things if he has that status.

Aer Lingus are expected to use two of there own A320 and lease two A320 that Meridiana Fly operated for VS deal. So there own fleet will not be reduced as a result of the deal.

BA/LHR I don't know why I entraining you but this bull about the % of slots BA have at LHR over AF/KLM at there home airports. These airports have greater capacity than LHR so the % of slots to the main carrier will be greater than that of LHR. Until LHR builds a 3rd runway BA will NOT have any more slots. The sooner you accept this then people will find the fourm readable and not in its current form.

Now there is nothing stopping BA dropping there 7 daily service from DUB (soon to be 5) and using these slots to compete with there European counterparts as you like to put it. Nothing stopping them using EI to feed the passengers but you think for some reason it would be better for BA operating and EI codesharing. Any particulor reason?

Any word on when the new A319's will be arriving in?

Quote: "Trade is a two way street the UK needs foreign carriers as well as British carriers at Heathrow. Personally I think we need EI at Heathrow and all the other UK airports it supports over here and long may it do so."

Quite right! How many UK airports is it? about 18?



Quote: "BALHR - There is quite a debate going on the Sheffield City Airport thread that could use your insight."

Aaaargh! what have the good folk of Sheffield done to deserve this!



Quote: "The only way to deal with the irritant BALHR is deprive him of the oxygen of response. He needs this to convince himself of his importance.

Let him go away and do student things if he has that status."

Like protesting, demonstrating, boycotting lectures, occupying the college..........oops, sorry, forgot, it's not the 1970s.

Not quite that much. Think it's 12 now on GB, then BHD (in the UK but not guaranteed to be classed as such), IOM (not "in" the UK but could be classed as such) and JER (ditto).

LTN is terminated now as it was just WAT left.

It's a few less than I'd like to see them at but I'm not sure there is actually demand for LBA/NCL/NQY or at least not for two carriers.

Article circulating the bars of thurles indicates an interview with willie Walsh when he was 5 years old and his ambition to get the top job in BA and to start giving away the BA slots to Ei to further an ambition for their links into Knock, Shannon and cork and then onto US and Canada. Any thoughts BA/LHR person you may have your views all wrong concerning EI LHR slots so understand if you need to do some research and express an opinion on another subject.

The EU are not happy with how firm the British Airways and Flybe deals that FR made to them. Not many other carriers FR can go to and offer a deal..

Added to my ignore list, the only person there, now if everyone else does this we can move on with the actual discussion at hand.

My other post seems to have gotten lost in the fray, but does anyone know when the next 2 A319's are due in?

due march sometime i would expect, im nearly sure i read it somewhere for the start of the summer season