The US Department of Transportation has "tentatively approved" the proposed alliances between American Airlines and British Airways, and United Airlines and BMI British Midland. In return, the department has demanded that BA and AA give up 224 landing and takeoff slots at London Heathrow airport - sufficient to allow 17 daily flights to the airport by competitors. United and BMI have been ordered to allow one flight a day into Heathrow by their competitors. The slots would go to Continental Airlines (five daily services), Delta Air Lines (six), Northwest Airlines (three) and US Airways (two). Open Skies talks between the US and UK governments were to have got under way on 28 January.
Source: Flight International
