The BMi Rumour thread

Oh ok, i thought they were NEARLY the same, but won’t take long to get used to them then!

It is a different rating, however the conversion course will likely take only 2 or 3 days, as is the case with the 737 to 737NG.

Mmm, the EMB 170 would fit in good with bmi regional v well, as it has the same flightdeck as the ERJ family.

Are you sure? On his excellent thread on the Emb 170, Whiskey Delta says the two types have distinct type ratings.

Mmm, the EMB 170 would fit in good with bmi regional v well, as it has the same flightdeck as the ERJ family.So could be used mainline.
A319 are being palced on Euro routes out of LHR eg BRU,DUB.

Yeah, but the A319 carries about 130-140 pax in full economy , seems a bit of a waste to have it on a route that normally carries about 70, 80 pax, does it not?

I thought the A319 replaced it?!!!!!

As I have said in another thread, what will replace the F100s on routes such as LBA-GLA, which average about 70 or 80 PAX? A bit of a waste of an A319, but way to many for a 145.

EMB 170/190s possible?

A340’s NO NO NO!!!
A332’s fit into bmi’s plans very well. There is no need for A340’s as there could be plenty of empty seats on it. At least the A330 can be filled. Extra ones should be on the way in the next few months i guess.
Fokkers should have gone when they changed from BMA to bmi, and thats a whole 4 years nearly!

Maybe Planetair sold their tickets at too low prices. That would explain why despite full loads Planetair still went belly up.

Dont think that was the case Pete, apparantly they lost all their money on the AGP/ALC/FAO routes where they were competing against Jet2 on, indeed TFS was the only route they kept on after the 1st year, they planned on doing Lanzarote and Malta in the second year in addition to TFS.

Nice to have you on board Skymonster, you seem like a very knowledgable person, and nice to have an insider at the airline 🙂

Know anything about the rumours of Baby setting up at LBA?

Thanks for the welcome… I keep reading about A340s (mainly on PPRuNe) but nothing heard from inside the airline. I wouldn’t hold my breath. Seems like further A330s may be needed if all the rumoured long haul ex-MAN services go ahead next year – they have enough A330s for IAD, ORD, LAS and the Caribbean this winter as YYZ is apparently seasonal, but if they launch east-bound services (e.g India, etc) next year they’ll need more unless they reduce trans-atlantic ops.

Still think bmi’s true long term future will be dictated by its sale – some sticky issues to overcome if the VS merger was ever to go ahead but “Lufthansa UK” isn’t totally out of the question given the amount of money they’ve already pumped into bmi. Of course, if Dicky B ever got his hands on it there’d be some downsizing to release LHR slots for VS longhaul, but maybe MAN would still work as a second long-haul hub.

All I hear about the other parts are that Regional is the only component doing reasonably well right now, and that Baby bet on the name change at EMA making a difference but so far it hasn’t – they are NOT doing that well at EMA in particular.

Andy

Can you see Regional inparicular restarting any of the lost Duo routes at EDI?
MUC was rumoured, which would be handy with the onward connections with LH too?
:confused:

Thanks for the welcome… I keep reading about A340s (mainly on PPRuNe) but nothing heard from inside the airline. I wouldn’t hold my breath. Seems like further A330s may be needed if all the rumoured long haul ex-MAN services go ahead next year – they have enough A330s for IAD, ORD, LAS and the Caribbean this winter as YYZ is apparently seasonal, but if they launch east-bound services (e.g India, etc) next year they’ll need more unless they reduce trans-atlantic ops.

Still think bmi’s true long term future will be dictated by its sale – some sticky issues to overcome if the VS merger was ever to go ahead but “Lufthansa UK” isn’t totally out of the question given the amount of money they’ve already pumped into bmi. Of course, if Dicky B ever got his hands on it there’d be some downsizing to release LHR slots for VS longhaul, but maybe MAN would still work as a second long-haul hub.

All I hear about the other parts are that Regional is the only component doing reasonably well right now, and that Baby bet on the name change at EMA making a difference but so far it hasn’t – they are NOT doing that well at EMA in particular.

Andy

Welcome to the forums ‘skymonster!!’
Yes, BMI do seem to be doing well out of MAN, but I dont know about any other airports! I heard a rumour that BMI were getting A340(s), dont know if this is true?!

MANAIRPORTMAD!!

LOL! My favourite subject!!!

Baby doing far far better at MAN than EMA – look for more downsizing at EMA and further ramp up at MAN, with Baby dumping some of the business routes and focusing on the Med. Baby were getting an ex-Malev -300 but its not happening now – rumour around EMA is no finance.

Current rumour – SMDB etc will sell bmi (now its rebranded to just bmi, nolonger bmi British Midland) – but to whom, LH, VS??? Baby now has its own AOC and could be hived off too. But they’ll keep British Midland Regional (possibly rebranded to just British Midland now bmi don’t need that name) as their personal train-set to keep them busy in their retirement.

Regional will slowly increase its range of services as EMA as they’ve realised that there’s still demand for non-peasant services out of the airport – many business customers formerly regular at EMA have moved to BHX as they can’t be bothered with the poor treatment and long queues at EMA.

Fokkers are on the way out – ‘JA is already in Aus, and ‘JB is painted and will soon be ready to go too. Stated intent on bmi website is to become an all-Airbus operator.

Andy

It’ll be sad to see the F100 of BMI going without even seeing it in full new colours!

Right, personally, i feel that bmi should concentrate on Euro routes from LHR, trans-atlantic from MAN and feed traffic into MAN to do the long-haul routes.

bmi regional looks a bit messed up. Routes all over the place, replacing baby routes etc. bmi regional were going well out of EMA till they decided to replace them with baby. Theres a MAN-Toulouse route! why regional!?!? OK u can’t do that mainline but its stupid just to have one route to Europe with one reg airline

I see they have more A319’s on the way, which in the end will replace the whole F100 fleet, or thats the idea.

I don’t want to see my beloved bmi go to more of a mess thab they all ready are. I feel their service is the best around, and they r doing more effort than anybody else long-haul out of MAN, cos they have the monopoly there, well on YYZ and IAD routes.

Come on Bishiop, please sort it out!

Maybe Planetair sold their tickets at too low prices. That would explain why despite full loads Planetair still went belly up.

The A321s should get painted eventually, dont think the F100s will as I dont think they have that long to go with BMi.

Just thinking then, BMi should start flying to Tenerife and Lanzarote from LBA. Planetair did TFS last year, they filled a Spanair A321 out of LBA every Friday, by offering reasonable fares and good service on board. The Lanzarote flight was proposed this year, apparantly was getting very good bookings before Planetair went bust. BMi should draft an A321 up here every Thursday and Friday and do the same with daytime flights. Think it would be a very very good earner for them.

I know that in the grand scheme of things it is not that important, but anyone have a clue when the A321s and the F100s get painted in the new livery? Also, this year the F70 lease to KLM expires. Will KLM be allowed to extend the lease (they are eager to do so) or will BMI want to get the F70s back.