Deloitte values BA’s Heathrow slots at £2bn

British Airways could add £2bn to its asset base if it includes its landing slots at Heathrow in its accounts. Deloitte, the accountancy firm, said the Heathrow slots are the most valuable in the world - a pair of peak time slots can fetch up to £30m - and airlines have begun examining whether they will bring them on to their balance sheets. The slots have increased in value since the open skies agreement, which opened transatlantic travel to full competition from 1 April, came into effect.

The next most valuable slots are at Charles de Gaulle in Paris, Gatwick and Frankfurt. Recognising them as assets could help cash-strapped airlines raise new cash by using them as collateral.