Originally Posted by
Hedley
They don’t want any of the aircraft, but gate space and slots is a completely separate matter. I’d expect the legacies to easily outbid any ULCC should they become available.
Gates and slots are not typically fungible property of the airline.
They belong to governments, which allocate them for their own reasons and are usually not transferable (some exceptions in certain jurisdictions). Such reasons might be to enhance the local economy by bringing tourists, open access for local residents to certain places, foster competition and lower fares, etc.