Aer Lingus will be watching with keen interest the outcome of a row between British Airways and the European competition commissioner, Karel van Miert. The long-running saga of whether British Airways will be allowed to link up with American Airlines depends on BA's willingness to dispose of 267 take-off and landing slots at Heathrow Airport. BA says it is willing to do this, but values each slot at £2 million sterling. Mr van Miert says they should be surrendered without payment.

Aer Lingus holds 3.44 per cent of Heathrow's slots, the fourth largest share after BA, British Midland and Lufthansa. Industry sources say these slots have a market value of £50 million. This would be an alluring prospect when Aer Lingus searched for a strategic partner - but not so alluring if Brussels said they were worthless.