British Airways 'table bid to buy rival BMI'

The owner of British Airways has reportedly tabled a proposal to buy airline BMI British Midland – a major user of Heathrow Airport.

BA parent International Airlines Group (IAG) is understood to be interested in acquiring the whole airline from current owner, the German flagship carrier Lufthansa.

The move, which according to Sky News is in early discussion stages, is likely to enrage BA’s competitors over the dominant position it would hold at Heathrow - especially after IAG bought six pairs of take-off and landing slots from BMI last month.

IAG, which was formed when BA merged with Spanish carrier Iberia, would own more than half of take-off and landing slots at Heathrow if a complete acquisition went ahead.