"Never before has the U.S. Government approved an
anti-trust immunity application where barriers to entry are so
significant that any new meaningful competitive entry is virtually
impossible. Take-off and landing slots at London's Heathrow Airport
are scarce and virtually impossible to obtain at times required for
competitive transatlantic services. In the rare instances that
slots become available, they are prohibitively expensive for
airlines in good economic times and out-of-reach in challenging
ones."
Source: Sir Richard Branson, the founder
and President of Virgin Atlantic -- writing to Barack
Obama to warn of what he says are dangers to consumers if British
Airways and American Airlines are allowed to effectively merge.