BRITISH Midland chairman Sir Michael Bishop said he expected the airline’s transatlantic plans to be agreed by UK and US officials.
He said proposals to allow additional US carriers and British Midland to launch transatlantic flights had received a boost after the High Court ruled that slots can be traded.
“There are willing sellers in the market to provide slots for US carriers. A bilateral settlement will be found sooner rather than later,” said Sir Michael.
British Midland sees premium-priced tickets on US routes as a way of halting a slump in yields.
Last Thursday, Sir Michael revealed British Midland’s pre-tax profit fell to ú11m in the year to December 31 1998 from the record ú16.7m in 1997. Average yields were down 0.3%. The airline plans to start US flights next summer from Heathrow. It has licences to serve New York, Washington, Boston and Miami, with six others pending.
However, group managing director Austin Reid said US flights can start from Manchester in summer 2000 if a new bilateral remains unsigned.