The International Airlines Group (IAG) has refused to deny rumours that it has tabled a bid for Bmi.
According to a report on Sky News, the BA-Iberia parent company has put forward a proposal to buy the loss-making carrier.
The bid for the Lufthansa-owned airline is at an early stage, said the report, and could involve a full take-over or the acquisition of key assets, such as landing slots at Heathrow.
An IAG spokeswoman told ABTN: “We have made no secrecy of our interest in Bmi, but we are not commenting on this report.”
When asked whether she could deny that IAG has made an official bid, she again refused to comment.
BA rival Virgin Atlantic has also openly spoken of its desire to buy Bmi.