Category Archives: bmi regional

bmi regional rebrands as flybmi

flybmi has unveiled its newly redesigned website (flybmi.com), offering a more customer friendly platform, which is optimised for mobile usage and visually rich layout.

Launched on Tuesday, June 26, 2018, the new site is designed to appeal to both the business and leisure markets, with improved functionality, refined navigation and a fresh look and feel.

The airline is also rebranding to become ‘flybmi’, in-keeping with its existing web address, flybmi.com. The simplification of the brand and logo to flybmi retains investment in the current name and visual identity, which still references the rich history of the legacy flybmi brand whilst appealing to a broader European audience reflecting the refreshed vision for the company.

Flybmi has long been a favorite of business travellers due to the carrier’s convenient departure times, professional service, fully inclusive offering and broad network into key business destinations throughout Europe.

At the heart of the website is a completely new booking engine developed by 2e Systems, one of the leading travel e-commerce solutions providers, based in Germany. The booking engine enables customers to move through the booking flow, comparing the pricing across flight times and dates, offering the full suite of flybmi’s range of retail products and also provides customers the ability to pay for their travel with various payment forms and currencies, irrespective of their point of origin.

The fresh new design of flybmi.com continues to cater to the business traveller whilst also enhancing the airline’s appeal to the rapidly increasing leisure market, who are drawn by the traditional full-service benefits of travelling with flybmi which include, complimentary in-flight drinks and snacks, no middle seats and 23kg of hold luggage, inclusive on all fares. As the airline drives to increase its leisure share of the market, it has created a site with both customer groups in mind. Clear and bright imagery, with a greater family and destination focus is key to positioning flybmi as an airline that delivers a service for travellers across the board.

Commenting on the re-design, flybmi Director Marketing & Customer, Antony Price said: “We have worked very hard to create an easy to use website working equally well on all user interfaces that appeals to both our corporate and leisure customers. We believe the new site does exactly that. The clean, sharp design makes it easy for time pressed business travellers to navigate and book flights and find important content, whilst the redesigned destination reviews are there to inform and inspire those looking for a holiday or mini break within Europe. We’re also delighted that both the website and official title of the airline will now be consistently referred to as flybmi. It will refresh and enhance the brand”

Key features of the new site are:

Ability to book and check in online
Manage booking function where customers can add in extras such as sporting equipment, fast-tracked security or airport lounge access
Destination reviews and key events
Careers – dedicated page showcasing available positions at the airline ranging from pilots and cabin crew to engineers and office staff
Private charter – find out more about how to charter a private jet for business or leisure purposes

bmi to launch a new route from Bristol to Gothenburg

bmi (BMI Regional) has announced plans to launch a new route from Bristol to Gothenburg.

Launching on January 22, 2018, bmi will be operating a twice weekly route between the two cities.

This brings the number of destinations served by bmi from Bristol to nine. The bmi network out of Bristol includes Paris, Milan, Munich, Brussels, Frankfurt, Dusseldorf, Hamburg and Aberdeen. Bristol is bmi’s biggest UK hub and with onward connections via the likes of Munich, Brussels and Frankfurt, customers from the South West can travel further into Europe and other global destinations.

Gothenburg is the airline’s first Swedish route from Bristol. It is the location of Scandinavia’s largest port and is a hub for global trade, currently enjoying unprecedented economic growth. It is a popular mini break destination thanks to its fabulous food, eclectic culture and vibrant nightlife, as well as being the gateway to the stunning coast of West Sweden.

The route will fly out of Bristol on a Monday and Thursday, departing Bristol at 13.40, arriving Gothenburg at 16.50. The return flights will depart Gothenburg on Tuesdays at 14.40 and arrive in Bristol at 16.00 and on Fridays, departing Gothenburg at 11.40, arriving Bristol at 13.00.

bmi regional:

Video:

Bmi Regional announces summer expansion from Bristol

Bmi Regional (East Midlands) announced in a press release on Wednesday February 18, an expansion of services from Bristol Airport for the Summer 2015 season, which sees the launch of Dusseldorf and Paris (CDG) service from April 27. Seasonal services to Nantes will also be offered from July to September 2015. These additional services bring the number of routes flown by the airline from Bristol to eight, alongside Aberdeen, Hamburg, Munich, Frankfurt and Milan.

The new routes will be run as follows:

Bristol – Dusseldorf: 6 times weekly

Bristol – Paris CDG: 11 times weekly

Bristol – Nantes: Twice weekly from July 4 to September 12

The new destinations will be operated by a 49-seat Embraer ERJ 145s, with a Tuesday flight to Nantes operated by a 37-seat Embraer ERJ 135.

Assistant Editor Oliver Wilcock reporting from Manchester.

Copyright Photo: Stefan Sjogren/AirlinersGallery.com. Is a new livery coming for this regional or will it cling to the now retired bmi 2001 livery? All white Embraer ERJ 145EU (EMB-145EU) G-EMBI (msn 145126) arrives in Stockholm (Arlanda).

Bmi Regional aircraft slide show:

Bmi Regional expands from Munich in conjunction with Lufthansa

Bmi Regional (Aberdeen) will base two Embraer Regional Jets, one Embraer ERJ 135 (ER3) and one ERJ 145 (ER4), out of Munich this summer as part of plans to open up flights to Berne, Liège, and Rotterdam. The routes are operated in conjunction with Lufthansa (Frankfurt).

The two carriers signed a codeshare agreement in April last year in which Lufthansa places its flight code on Bmi Regional flights from Bristol to Frankfurt and Munich as well as from Karlstad (Sweden) to Frankfurt.

On the Rotterdam route, Bmi Regional will replace Lufthansa flights operated by Lufthansa CityLine (Munich) with Bombardier CRJ700s and CRJ900s, on the Berne route it will compete with SkyWork Airlines (Berne).

The routes served by Bmi Regional from Munich will be as follows per Airline Route:

Munich – Berne Up to 3 daily:

BM1711 MUC0655 – 0800BRN ER3 x7
BM1713 MUC1045 – 1145BRN ER4 x67
BM1717 MUC1905 – 2010BRN ER3 x6
BM1712 BRN0830 – 0930MUC ER3 x7
BM1714 BRN1215 – 1310MUC ER4 x67
BM1718 BRN2040 – 2135MUC ER3 x6

Munich – Liege Up to 2 daily:

BM1721 MUC1010 – 1130LGG ER3 x7
BM1723 MUC1415 – 1545LGG ER3 x6
BM1722 LGG1155 – 1310MUC ER3 x7
BM1724 LGG1625 – 1745MUC ER3 x6

Munich – Rotterdam Up to 3 daily:

BM1701 MUC0645 – 0815RTM ER4 x7
BM1703 MUC1350 – 1520RTM ER4 x67
BM1707 MUC1745 – 1920RTM ER4 x6
BM1702 RTM0845 – 1010MUC ER4 x7
BM1704 RTM1550 – 1715MUC ER4 x67
BM1708 RTM2005 – 2135MUC ER4 x6

Report by Assistant Editor Oliver Wilcock from Manchester.

Copyright Photo: Keith Burton/AirlinersGallery.com. Embraer ERJ 145EP G-RJXG (msn 145390) approaches the runway at London (Heathrow).

Bmi Regional aircraft slide show:

BMI Regional starts new Norwegian routes from Stavanger to northern Norway

BMI Regional (British Midland Regional Limited) (East Midlands) has announced the first nonstop routes linking the two fastest growing regions in Norway – Stavanger and Northern Norway starting today (January 23). The new routes mean Norwegians can now fly direct, nonstop to Harstad/Narvik Airport (Evenes) and Tromsø – important hubs for the Norwegian oil and gas industry without having to connect via Oslo. Similarly, new direct flights to Kristiansund and Gothenburg also commence today.

The services linking Stavanger to Harstad/Evenes and Tromsø in the far north of Norway are predicted to provide savings of NOK 400 million to the Norwegian oil and gas industry.

Copyright Photo: Ole Simon/AirlinersGallery.com. Embraer ERJ 145EP G-RJXF (msn 145280) soars into the cobalt blue skies of Frankfurt.

BMI Regional:

Current Route Map (with the new routes):

BMI Regional introduces a new logo

BMI Regional (Aberdeen and East Midlands) has decided to retain its current name with a new revised logo (below) as its starts a new life as an independent airline under the ownership of Sector Aviation Holdings.

The company also announced starting on October 29, it will fly between Bristol and Aberdeen and between Manchester and Antwerp, twice daily on both routes and operated by its Embraer jet fleet.

Copyright Photo: Dave Glendinning. Embraer ERJ 145EP G-RJXI (msn 145454), still wearing the remnants of the Star Alliance color scheme, taxies to the gate at London (Heathrow). A new livery incorporating this new logo is likely for the carrier.

BMI Regional:

IAG sells BMI Regional to Sector Aviation Holdings for $12.8 million

International Airlines Group (IAG) (London) has signed a binding agreement to sell BMI Regional (Aberdeen) to Sector Aviation Holdings Ltd (SAH) for £8 million ($12.8 million) in cash. The sale includes all of BMI Regional’s fixed assets and long-term liabilities, including owned and operating lease aircraft.

BMI Regional operates a fleet of 18 Embraer regional jets and flies to 14 destinations from UK regional airports. A name change is very likely.

The sale is conditional upon CAA approval and it is anticipated that ownership will be transferred to SAH within two weeks.

Sector Aviation is a consortium of businessmen with considerable aviation experience including the team previously referred to as Granite Aviation, led by Ian Woodley. The business is being funded by Stephen and Peter Bond who are also investors in Loganair (Glasgow).

IAG previously acquired BMI including BMI Regional and bmibaby from Lufthansa on April 20, 2012. Bmibaby remains unsold.

BMI Regional Slide Show: CLICK HERE

Bmibaby to shut down the Belfast base on June 11, the airline to be totally shut down in September if a buyer can’t be found

Bmibaby (East Midlands) is living on borrowed time. New owner IAG has announced the low-fare subsidiary will be shut down on September 10 if a new buyer cannot be found. Meanwhile IAG is cutting key bmibaby routes for the carrier. The first to go will be the Belfast base on June 11 along with route closures from East Midlands. Birmingham and East Midlands will be totally shut down on September 10.

Read the full story from The Independent: CLICK HERE

In other related news, Flybe (Exeter) is planning to takeover some of the closing bmibay routes and is also in negotiations to possibly take over the aircraft and routes of bmi regional (Aberdeen). If completed, the Scottish division would operate under the growing Flybe brand.

Read the full story from the BBC: CLICK HERE

Top Copyright Photo: Nik French.

Bmibaby Slide Show: CLICK HERE

Bmi Regional Slide Show: CLICK HERE

Bottom Copyright Photo: Keith Burton.

Lufthansa completes the sale of bmi, IAG to dispose of bmibaby and bmi regional

Lufthansa (Frankfurt) has sold British Midland Limited (bmi) to the International Airlines Group (IAG). The sale was completed at the close of business on April 19. The gross purchase price was approximately $277.6 million.

According to Lufthansa, “as price adjustments have been agreed as part of the transaction structure, the net purchase price will be determined at the end of the second quarter 2012, at which point the final amount will be transferred. It continues to be expected that the net purchase price will be negative. However the costs of the transaction for Lufthansa will amortize within one year. The gross purchase price is expected to be reduced by a number of items including agreed deductions for not selling bmi regional and bmibaby prior to the completion of the transaction.

Bmi’s underfunded Pension Scheme is to be transferred to the UK Pension Protection Fund. The pension shortfall for the members of the bmi Pension Scheme will be offset to a large extent by a one-off contribution from Lufthansa of GBP 84 million to a supplementary pension scheme.”

On November 4, 2011, Lufthansa and IAG agreed in principle to the sale of bmi to IAG, prior to a legally binding purchase agreement being signed by both parties on December 22, 2011. The validity of this contract was subject to regulatory approval by the European Commission, which was received on March 30, 2012.

IAG has vowed to operate bmibaby and bmi regional as subsidiaries only for the short term (Lufthansa was unable to sell either carrier prior to the sale date). IAG will now try to dispose of both bmibaby and bmi regional.

Meanwhile Virgin Atlantic Airways has vowed to continue to fight this transaction and hopes to acquire new slots at London Heathrow.

Lufthansa is now entering an austerity period where it will attempt to cut all operations that are not making a profit.

Top Copyright Photo: Antony J. Best. The bmi brand is expected to be retired very quickly by British Airways ending a long history for British Midland Airways, now operating as bmi.

bmi/British Midland Slide Show: CLICK HERE

bmibaby Slide Show: CLICK HERE

Bottom Copyright Photo: Paul Denton. What will happen to bmibaby, the airline that no one wants?

Virgin Atlantic adopts a “block IAG takeover and replace BMI” strategy

Virgin Atlantic Airways Boeing 747-41R G-VROC (msn 32746) LHR (Wingnut) (new livery), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.

Virgin Atlantic Airways (London) is calling on the European Commission to block the IAG takeover of BMI (East Midlands). The company is also vowing to replace the critical UK-Heathrow feeder services provided by BMI with its own UK regional carrier.

Is Virgin Atlantic the undisclosed bidder for BMI Regional?

Read the full article from Travel Weekly: CLICK HERE

Virgin Atlantic Photo Gallery: CLICK HERE