Caught up with a bmi cabin crew friend today and picked up the following. Could be true or could be galley gossip but all sounds plausible enough.

- EI will be flying the MAN route on behalf of VS
- routes to EDI and ABZ will start next year with VS/EI
- BA have offered bmi's CAI slot to VS provided they also operate that route
- BA' s intention to use bmi's RUH slot has not yet been accepted by the Saudi authorities who are still offended that BA declared it an unsafe destination a few years back. The slot is considered a prime time slot and apparently the Saudi authorities have requested VS to consider operating the route.