billybob
April 21, 2002, 09:41 PM
I have heard from a very good source that despite the collapse of the BA/AA deal in January, tthere have been some intense informal talks behind the scenes between the US and UK and BA, BAA etc. etc. Word is that formal talks may start in the next 6 weeks or so. Seems that BA, UK govt. got blindsided by the US/France getting anti trust immunity etc. The reality is that BA can not wait for years for the EU and US to sort this out. Likewise AA is getting very impatient and frustrated with the whole thing.So perhaps we may hear of some progress. However the question remains, where will the slots at LHR come from to accomodate all these new flights to and from the US? Any comments?
stewy
April 25, 2002, 03:29 PM
The slots have come from doing a deal with some of the eastern european airlines involving them swapping some of their LHR slots to LGW instead. The slots that Balkan Bulgarian and Adria Airlines held at LHR were far from ideal time of day wise for their operation to work the way they wanted it to, eg no early morning flight into LHR for businessmen and an early afternoon departure back rather than an after 1700 slot. BA have turned over some cash to these two airlines, to name but two, for these unpopular LHR slots as BA can use them effectively and in return the two airlines got to pretty much choose which BA LGW slots they would like. The two airlines now operate from LGW only , but are happy because they now have slots that are of most use to them which, time of day wise, they would never have secured at LHR. Hope this info helps.