BA ready to give up slots

BRITISH Airways is said to be preparing to give up a raft of transatlantic flight slots worth tens of millions of pounds as it seeks to win US backing for a tie-up with American Airlines.

The carrier is said to be willing to surrender the rights to hundreds of flights to pave the way for an alliance between itself, American Airlines and BA's Spanish merger partner Iberia. BA has sought to secure a pact with American Airlines twice before, but has until now refused to bow to US demands on flight slots.