BMI Drops Manchester Long Haul

now all we have is a 5 times weekly ORD service!

Of course, that will return to Daily in the summer season

The AA reason is absolutely ludicrous. AA haven’t increased capacity to Manchester, they have dramatically reduced it in the last two years. Where once we had a daily flight to ORD, MIA and BOS alongside a codeshare on the BA flight to JFK, now all we have is a 5 times weekly ORD service!

BTW ORD isn’t going twice daily, the plan is for ORD to return to daily with a 757 and for the 2nd 757 to serve JFK.

It’ll be interesting to see where Baby and Regional fit into future plans.
1L.

It certainly will. We are disappointed at the news, we had just found a decent service to Brussels that offered in flight drinks and proper service (EMA-BRU) and did not break the bank (unlike “low cost” Brussels Airlines!) and did not involve flying to and from a London airport. It is getting harder to find good flights to BRU. VLM used to be a safe bet but they reduced the number of flights from LCY before it was taken over by AF, and we do not want to go via LHR.

If BMI Regional goes, we would end up going to Belgium on the ferry or the train 🙁

Very Very dissapointed in this news, always tried to fly bmi to the U.S when I could. But really its no suprise, their heart has never really been in Manchester, the bright lights of London have always atractted them like a fly to a neon lamp 😮

Ah well, its AA or US to the States for me next year now.

Although it’s a blow for MAN this announcement doesn’t surprise me at all. If the routes aren’t performing and they feel they can do more with the 330 aircraft at LHR, especially with open skies now in place, it makes sense.

Does this move mean that the longhaul crew base will close?

I just hope BMA don’t mimic BAW, and pull out of MAN – and base all aircraft at LHR.

I wouldn’t be surprised if we do eventually see that, with BD feeding into LHR and LH feed into FRA from the UK regions.

It’ll be interesting to see where Baby and Regional fit into future plans.

1L.

Thanks for clearing that up:)

I’m not sure on this but I’ve heard that the AA aircraft that does the ORD flight continues onward to Vegas.

Well AAL54 operates the following flights;

EGCC – KORD
KORD – KLAX
KLAX – KORD

While AAL55 is just,

KORD – EGCC

I think that AA do or did do a seasonal daily flight to Miami with a 757 and I’m not sure on this but I’ve heard that the AA aircraft that does the ORD flight continues onward to Vegas.

That would put reason to the BD flights being low load factors, where AA uses 1 aircraft for the 2 destinations, BD uses 2. Would make sense but not 100% how true it is.

Virgin (florida and carribean) and soon to be Jet2 to New York( i think and hope).

Don’t forget that we’re losing Virgin’s St Lucia service at the end of March. Jet2 will only be operating LBA-JFK. What MAN needs now is the instant availbility of 787/A350 which should improve economics on most of the existing portfolio of routes!

If you’ve seen the BD reasons, there is a small hint of a crumb of comfort:

Crain’s Manchester Business: “However, these services have never performed to the levels that we had hoped. Our Chicago service has been at best a moderate success up to this year. However, a combination of higher fuel prices, increased competition and the impact of open skies at Heathrow has had a serious negative impact on the route’s viability”

Whereas Business Traveller has:
“Nevertheless, Chicago has generally been a success up to this year, when a combination of higher fuel prices, increased competition from both American Airlines in Manchester and some impact of additional capacity to the USA as a result of open skies at Heathrow has had a serious negative impact on the results. The reduction in seats due to the introduction of lie-flat beds in business class and a world leading premium economy cabin late last year has regretfully led to no significant increase to overall revenue, and we have been unable to generate an improved price for our much improved premium products in the Manchester market. “

Now seeing that AA had a daily 767 prior to BD starting-up and maintained it throughout, what increased competition are they talking about unless it means that AA is about to enhance MAN ops by going 2 daily 757s to ORD?

Sad news, I just hope BMA don’t mimic BAW, and pull out of MAN – and base all aircraft at LHR.

I thought the other A332 was based there (doing the ME run), i’ve seen it various times at LHR.

Yes, the one in star alliance colours has been there recently I think. Never caught it though, must arrive very late or very early.

GUTTED!!!!

American Airlines, USAir, Continental, Delta, Virgin (florida and carribean) and soon to be Jet2 to New York( i think and hope). So still some nice services going across. Would like to see United at some point.

Sad news, I just hope BMA don’t mimic BAW, and pull out of MAN – and base all aircraft at LHR.

I thought the other A332 was based there (doing the ME run), i’ve seen it various times at LHR.

O.h. must be me then never seeing them 😮

Sad news, I just hope BMA don’t mimic BAW, and pull out of MAN – and base all aircraft at LHR.

I didn’t think they would have done this, as i thought the A321 at LHR where doing well, but it will be nice to see the BMI A330 at LHR though.

I thought the other A332 was based there (doing the ME run), i’ve seen it various times at LHR.

I didn’t think they would have done this, as i thought the A321 at LHR where doing well, but it will be nice to see the BMI A330 at LHR though.