=20 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- This article was sent to you by someone who found it on SF Gate. The original article can be found on SFGate.com here: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=3D/news/archive/2003/10/13/f= inancial0737EDT0009.DTL ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Monday, October 13, 2003 (AP) BA buys four Heathrow slots from United (10-13) 04:37 PDT LONDON (AP) -- British Airways said Monday that it has bought four trans-Atlantic takeo= ff and landing slots at London's Heathrow airport from rival United Airlines. The purchase of two takeoff and two landing slots expands BA's dominant position at Heathrow airport, Europe's busiest. The airline now has 41 percent of the slots at Heathrow, the highest level it has had for 11 years. BA declined to reveal the value of the deal, won in an industry auction, but news reports said it was worth around 12 million pounds ($19.2 million). British Airways pointed out that it still has a lower percentage of slots at its home hub than other European national carriers. Air France and KLM operate more than 50 percent of the slots at Paris and Amsterdam respectively. "We are always looking at ways of growing at Heathrow to improve flight schedules and make them more attractive to customers," said Richard Goodfellow, a spokesman for BA. =20 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright 2003 AP