Despite BA's weakened financial position, CEO Willie Walsh has told investors in New York that British Airways has not ruled out buying bmi's lucrative Heathrow slots stating that they were too tempting to ignore.

"In the current environment, it is difficult to argue we should go out and acquire those slots," the Financial Times reported.

"Having said that, it may be the only opportunity we ever get."

BA last week reported a pre-tax loss of £401m for the financial year ending March 31. Despite BA's worst financial results since the 1980s, it could still seek to increase its dominance at Heathrow.

A spokesman for BA said: "We are always keen to improve our Heathrow slot portfolio but in the current economic environment we would have to be pragmatic about acquiring slots.

"But our appetite might not be what it was a year ago."

bmi currently holds an 11% share of Heathrow's take-off and landing slots making it the airport's second largest airline.

The struggling British airline could sell its valuable slots to raise cash, despite currently being taken over by Lufthansa.

29 May 2009