Expansion … BA could be looking to increase control at Heathrow

British travellers looking for flights from regional airports may have to stump up extra cash and choose flights from a less frequent schedule as it is revealed that British Airways is looking to buy BMI.

Lufthansa, which took control of the British-based carrier two years ago, is planning to sell BMI after making losses of £105 million in the first half of this year.

British Airways is said to be keen to purchase BMI because of its valuable slots at Heathrow Airport.

IAG, the parent company of British Airways and Iberia, currently controls 44 per cent of all available landing slots at Heathrow, one of the world’s busiest airports. Taking control of BMI would give the airline more than 50 per cent of all available take off and landing slots.

The move could see airline passengers losing out. BMI currently flies a number of routes from airports such as London Heathrow, Manchester, Aberdeen and Edinburgh to destinations across Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia and Africa. If sold, many of these flights could be cancelled and more emphasis put on directing travellers to the Heathrow “hub”.

The sale of BMI could also affect operations of the its budget carrier bmibaby, which recently won the best Low Cost Airline gong in the prestigious Conde Nast Traveller 2011 Reader Awards.

(Image: Route79)

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