Sir, – British Midland has just sold six slots at Heathrow to British Airways, enhancing dominance of the latter. Virgin is objecting on competition grounds.
These have a value of in excess of £1m per slot and British Midland probably utilised such slots to service UK regional airports, eg Teesside.
British Midland probably think that no one will notice this sale, as it is long after ceasing these services to UK regional airports.
It is now almost certain that no carrier will be able to resurrect these services to Heathrow.
Government intervention in protecting slots for regional airports never got off the ground and British Midland has succeeded in a full commercial realisation of their value at huge detraction from the future of regional airports.
JOHN W LATIMER Norton, Stockton-on-Tees.
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