An update from Reuters indicates that International Airlines Group (owner of British Airways and Iberia) is prepared to make more concessions to enable the sale of British Midland International/British Midland Airways
According to the report, IAG offered give up 10 slots for domestic and international use. But it seems the moaning of Virgin Atlantic Group has resulted in a further 4 slots to be ceded to allow the sale to go through.
Whilst the location of the 14 slots have not been revealed, you can bet that Heathrow is the target location of the slot release, leaving IAG still with a lump of slots to play with if it gets the takeover nod.
No one from any party is commenting – but if this is the case, it isn’t surprising in the least. Those who thought IAG could get away with the purchase of BMI without loosing a slot are in cloud cookoo land. It was always a matter of how many slots that would be given away.