bmi, the UK’s second largest full service scheduled airline, is to launch direct flights between Manchester and the Caribbean islands of Barbados, Antigua and St Lucia, commencing 26 November 2004.
The start of Caribbean services reaffirms the status of bmi as the biggest UK provider of scheduled services across the Atlantic from any UK regional airport, and also marks a number of significant firsts. bmi will be the first and the only carrier to operate direct scheduled services from Manchester to Antigua and St Lucia*, as well as the first and the only airline to offer three different classes of travel on scheduled flights from Manchester to Barbados. bmi will also be unique in providing a direct return service from Barbados for those seeking a seven day break.
The twice weekly service to Barbados will launch 26 November. Weekly services to Antigua commence 27 November and St Lucia* on 1 December. Return fares for all three destinations start at £449, including taxes and can be booked from today at http://www.flybmi.com or by calling 0870 60 70 222.
Austin Reid, bmi chief executive, said: “The launch of services from Manchester to the Caribbean comes less than six weeks after the announcement of our new route from Manchester to Toronto, starting in April. This is a clear demonstration of our continuing commitment to provide scheduled services from the UK regions and, in particular, to long haul destinations from Manchester – a commitment that other UK scheduled carriers cannot match.
“Passengers now have no need to travel to London and onto the Caribbean services of those carriers showing little appetite or commitment to the important UK regions. Manchester’s hub status is also set to increase as our new services have been timed specifically to provide travellers to and from Scotland – and Heathrow – with convenient connections.
“Our announcement brings major benefits to those wanting to travel with the confidence, convenience and comfort of a bmi scheduled service flight.”
As well as convenient connections at Manchester, the schedules have been timed to connect at their destinations with a wide range of services to other popular Caribbean islands, such as the British Virgin Islands, St Kitts, Tobago, Grenada, St Vincent and the Grenadines.
bmi’s long haul product, which features innovations such as onboard chefs and individual entertainment screens for all passengers, as well as a unique in-flight telemedicine service, has won many plaudits, including a maximum five star rating by Business Traveller magazine and first place in a Holiday Which? survey of airlines serving the USA.
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A bit surprising but Im sure they will do well. I hope one day bmi will be able to operate long haul services from LHR but that will probably be a looooooooong time yet!
By: dartie - 9th March 2004 at 23:23
Originally posted by Mark L
SIA already serve the route with 777s so there would be no need for BMI to do it too.
Yeah i know that but it would be go for them to commence such a route or either route it via Tokyo or Hong Kong, and they can always make the alternative of via LAX but then again the LAX route wont be that attractive due it long hours!
By: robbelc - 9th March 2004 at 18:29
Virgin and BWIA also fly from MAN to Barbados(BGI) a couple of times a week I think?
Plus VIR fly there daily from LGW plus a couple of times a week to Antigua and StLucia. Good job they are extending the terminal at BGI as it used to be bad enough with the BA 777,VIR 747 and a charter A330 all ariving within 1/2 hour, and it was chaos.
The Craibbean is a great place to spot,very relaxed. Get a hotel under the approach its even better 😀 . Time to go back once Caribstar get their new DHC8-300’s!
By: LBARULES - 9th March 2004 at 15:28
Great news to see more BMi A330 flights from MAN. Hopefully they go well and more destinations are added.
By: bmi-star - 9th March 2004 at 14:15
True Mark, and i don’t wan’t to see the SIA 777 not coming to MAN! They r better than the 747’s
By: Mark L - 9th March 2004 at 13:42
SIA already serve the route with 777s so there would be no need for BMI to do it too.
By: bmi-star - 9th March 2004 at 13:37
I hope so dartie! BMI have seen the potential in MAN, and i see more A330’s arriving in the near future!
By: dartie - 9th March 2004 at 12:57
Good news for BMI you can see that they are certainly trying to push forward their expansion plans hopefully we could see them operate MAN-SIN-AUS flights with the A340-500/-600 which would be good to see!
By: dan777 - 9th March 2004 at 12:07
British Airways offer the following Carribean services:
London Heathrow to:
Nassau, Bahamas
Bridgetown, Barbados
Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands
London Gatwick to:
Antigua
Bridgetown, Barbados
Bermuda
Grenada
Kingston, Jamaica
Hewanorra, St Lucia
Tobago
By: green320 - 9th March 2004 at 09:15
See, I was right!! G-WWBD is rarely utilised and before this announcement, it was not going to be used in Winter 04/05. At least it will be flying on a more regular basis now!!
By: bmi-star - 9th March 2004 at 09:02
Nope, Toronto it looks like it, continues into the Winter 4 times a week. Might have changed it, but there are plans, if the rotes is full, that it will continue into the Winter.
If they need an extra a/c, i’m sure SAS or someone,might lease an A330, like bmi did to them in 2001. SAS leasd BD
EDIT:- Just checked, no Toronto flight in the winted at the mo;) So green320, u might be right. HOPE NOT!:D
By: green320 - 9th March 2004 at 09:00
The Caribbean flights are 4 times weekly so it would be G-WWBD operating it as the Toronto flight is seasonal.
By: green320 - 9th March 2004 at 08:57
G-WWBB and WWBM nearly always do the Chicago and Washington unless they go tech or get a rest, when WWBD gets the flight. WWBD will be doing most probably be doing Toronto for the summer, but I thought that service was seasonal and the Caribbean service would be operated by WWBD. They commence operations in April 4 times weekly to Toronto but from May to October, it is daily. My reggie book doesn’t say there is a 332 on the way to BMI.
By: bmi-star - 9th March 2004 at 08:47
This took me by suprise when i looked at www.justplanes.com .
Great news tho, must be getting another A330, because WWBD will be operating 4 times to Toronto in the Winter, and there are 4 flights a week to the Carribien(sorry bad spelling). Mabye the Aircraft not operating the Washington route on the Tuesday WW or WB, must be put on one of the routes.
But let’s hope even more bmi routes from MAN. Stuff Bermuda 2, bmi will be operating sucsessfully out of MAN.
I’ve flown on WW and WB, so i know the service they give. Well done bmi!
By: Mark L - 9th March 2004 at 08:47
BA fly to Antigua daily from LGW, and each day the flight goes on to a different destination – TObago, Greanda, or St Lucia. On Wednesdays and Sundays there is a 2nd daily service. They also serve Kingston, Bermuda, and Barbados, all from LGW, with one Barbados service ex LHR replacing the old Concorde flights
By: green320 - 9th March 2004 at 08:05
The Toronto service is for the summer only so it seems logical to put G-WWBD on this service. That is doing the Toronto service for the summer and most probably this service in the winter. I’m not sure about BA serving Caribbean services, but there will be no competition for DIRECT flights to Antigua and St. Lucia, except charters from MAN. BWIA and Air Jamaica don’t fly there direct so you would need to transfer to another flight rather than a direct flight with BMI.
By: greekdude1 - 9th March 2004 at 07:11
This is a great sign for BMI, a few more A330’s on the way, perhaps? Does BA serve any destinations in the Carribean?
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March 9, 2004 at 12:02 am