^
https://www.iata.org/contentassets/4ede2...4fe/calendar-coordination-activities.pdf
These are LHR summer season slots we are talking about. They start when the IATA summer season starts, and it is always at the end of March.
Defensive move against AF, sure. I'll buy it.
You can't - and airlines really don't - play defense against an opponent that hasn't even shown up to the game (BA) !