Monitoring Trustee in Case No M.6447 IAG/bmi

Following the Commission Decision (EU) 2024/1665 of 12 June 2024, the enforcement powers for Case M.6447 – IAG/bmi were transferred from the Commission to the Competition and Markets Authority (the “CMA”) of the United Kingdom on 1 July 2024.

Case related information can be downloaded directly from the CMA’s case page here. The Commitments can be downloaded directly from the Commission’s case page here.

The general responsibilities of the Trustee are set out in section 6.2 of the Commitments. The Trustee also has specific responsibilities, which are set out throughout the Commitments. Other elements of the Commitments relate to Fare Combinability and Special Prorate Agreements, which may be requested by Eligible Air Services Providers subject to sections 2 and 3 of the Commitments, respectively. Frequent Flyer Programmes are also available at the request of any New Air Services Provider in accordance with section 4 of the Commitments.

Notice of an upcoming Slot Release Procedure for the IATA Winter 2026/27 Season

The information provided below is intended to draw the attention of potential Applicants to certain sections of the Commitments.

The Slot Release Procedure launches on 5 March 2026. For the IATA Winter 2026/27 Season, Applicants are invited to apply for Slots to operate from London Heathrow airport to the following destinations only:

• Aberdeen; and
• Edinburgh.

For the IATA Winter 2026/27 Season, a maximum of five (5) individual weekly Slot pairs are available on days 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 (at the choice of the Applicant) and five (5) daily Slot pairs are available each day of the week (40 Slot pairs in total). There will be up to five (5) individual weekly Slots available in the morning, up to four (4) daily Slots available in the afternoon, and up to five (5) daily Slots available in the evening time bands. For the Winter 2026/27 season, Applicants are invited to apply for morning Slots between the 0820-1200 time band pursuant to clause 1.2.6 of the Commitments. Due to nighttime flying restrictions in place at London Heathrow airport, the last arrival Slot to be allocated by ACL is 22:40 (local time).

Slots awarded pursuant to this procedure shall be for operations commencing from the IATA Winter 2026/27 season (i.e., 25 October 2026).

Applicants wishing to apply for Slots should request a Slot Request Application Form from the Trustee at the earliest opportunity. Expressions of interest must be submitted to the Trustee by way of a completed form by no later than 18:00 GMT on 19 March 2026.

Key dates for the IATA Winter 2026/2027 Slot Release Procedure

• 19 March 2026 – Deadline for Applicants to submit to the Trustee their Slot Request Application Form, including arrival and departure times requested, details of its leased out or exchanged Slots at London Heathrow and indications of any claim for anonymity.
• 23 April 2026 – Deadline for the CMA (advised by the Trustee) to assess whether the Applicant meets the eligibility criteria set out under the Commitments.
• 7 May 2026 –
  • Deadline for Applicants to send a request for Slots to the Slot coordinator in accordance with the General Slot Allocation Procedure (“GSAP”), at the same time(s) as those requested previously pursuant to the Slot Release Procedure under the Commitments. Applicants to share confirmation of such request with the Trustee; and
  • Deadline for Applicants to send the Trustee its Key Terms, business plan and details of any compensation offered.
• 8 June 2026 – Applicants to share confirmation of the GSAP results with the Trustee.

Further details of the Slot Release Procedure are available from the Trustee. Applicants are requested to contact justin.menezes@mazars.co.uk, stephen.wainwright@steergroup.com and myoori.patel-rivet@mazars.co.uk to obtain a Slot Request Application Form at the earliest opportunity.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to also contact Airport Coordination Limited (“ACL”) at the earliest opportunity. ACL is responsible for the coordination of Slots, service and infrastructure requirements at London Heathrow airport. In the first instance, Applicants should contact Amy Balman at ACL, whose details are provided below:

Applicant airlines that request anonymity under the terms of Clauses 1.4.1(c) and 1.4.3 of the Commitments are advised to inform ACL of the anonymity of their request when contacting ACL and otherwise correspond with the Trustee only.

Trustee contact details

IAG Monitoring Trustee

FAO Justin Menezes

Forvis Mazars LLP

30 Old Bailey, London, EC4M 7AU

Tel: +44 (0)7881 284 080

Email: justin.menezes@mazars.co.uk