Aer Lingus 'will gain if allowed list slots as assets'

The Aer Lingus balance sheet could be significantly strengthened if the European Commission accepts a proposal to allow airlines to trade officially in landing slots at Heathrow and other major airports, according to a report in the Irish Times.

A 400-page report commissioned by the EC has recommended that airlines be allowed to trade in slots and list them as assets on their balance sheets, a practice currently prohibited under EU regulations.