Dont they already do Catania-Gatwick?

Yes, they’ve been operating this route for a while now, but I believe the flight originates in Malta.

It was launched as part of their step into offering “low fares” without the frills, but not an off-shoot carrier as such.

I believe they’ve just introduced a more extensive low fares structure called “Flexifly by Air Malta” which covers more routes.

I’ve travelled on the last row (usually 18) on the EMB145 and the engines don’t come over the window. You usually end up on the last row if your stand-by with another carrier, as I usually was!

Here’s a link to a typical EMB145 seat plan

As for service, I travelled bmi regional on EMA-BRU-EMA only a few weeks ago, and it was the usual choice of sandwich and a bar drink and tea or coffee.

The 145 can operate with as little as 1 cabin crew member, but usually always has 2. There are two crew jump seats, one at the main boarding door and one which pulls out from behind seats 18 E&F. Therefore, if you get the last row, you have to climb over the hostie if you ever had to get out and he/she was still in their seat!

Seeing as it must be a W pattern, maybe the aircraft is coming back in with a Tech problem, or maybe the crew are out of hours or they couldn’t position the outbound crew to LBA in time to operate it.

With a W pattern, there are 2 sets of crews who both end up positioning by coach at each end of the flight. Crew duty time is taken from the moment they check-in at MAN, continues whilst on the coach and on the flight so could be they’re out of hours for some reason.

Cabincrew, are they positioning you on FR? Things must be tight! Think I’d be crying help too. 😮

Seriously though, they used to position us at AMM on FR too. Its alright for a laugh 😀

Apparently the 757 was 3.5hrs late in this morning. I’ve heard two versions of why from my contacts at bmi. One saying tech problems (not great for first week of ops is it!) and the other saying problems with passengers missing etc. Don’t think the latter would quite amount to 3.5hrs though!

Anyone heard how the first Mumbai went??? Can’t find anything out.

British Midland Airways (as was) operated 707’s back in the 70’s and 80’s on long haul routes including JFK.

This 707 is pictured on the LAX-LGW run!

How times change :rolleyes: