Transportation Industry

Company Watch - Bmi

AirGuide Business, Feb 18, 2008

Feb 18, 2008

Bmi will use the 757s to introduce nonstop services from LHR to Almaty and Freetown beginning May 1. Both routes currently are served with a stop. In addition, the airline's new London LHR-Tel Aviv service, which it said is "selling beyond expectations," will upgrade to a 757 from an A320 shortly after the March 13 launch. The introduction of the two 757s also will enable schedule enhancements and increases in capacity to existing A321 destinations. Services from LHR to Yekaterinburg and Yerevan now will not operate to destinations beyond, thus boosting point-to-point capacity. An improved daily schedule between LHR and Tehran will be introduced, while flights to Dakar will be suspended. Feb 15, 2008

Bmi[sup.1]s move has also been prompted by its continuing difficulties in obtaining the right long-haul Airbus A330 aircraft it is seeking. A spokesman confirmed that [sup.3]it[sup.1]s difficult to say - we have been out in the market for A330s and we will continue to look.[sup.2] The carrier needs a further two long-range aircraft to improve its Heathrow operation, but it appears this may be some way off. Bmi[sup.1]s decision to acquire Bmed resulted in a huge expansion of the carrier[sup.1]s network and had the effect of delaying any implementation of transatlantic services from Heathrow as a result of Open Skies liberalisation. Feb 13, 2008

Bmi's new Boeing aircraft to upgrade its schedule, with new non-stop links to Almaty in Kazakhstan and Freetown from 1 May and increased Israeli frequency that will see six flights per week operate from London Heathrow. Using the new 757s will also enable schedule changes to bmi[sup.1]s existing Airbus A321 operations, with flights from Heathrow to Ekaterinburg and Yerevan now not operating to destinations beyond those cities to improve point to point capacity. Feb 13, 2008

Bmi leases Boeings. Bmi announced today Feb. 13 that is to lease two Boeing 757-200 aircraft from its Heathrow operation as it continues the search for larger jets. The need for extra capacity has come about since bmi[sup.1]s takeover of Bmed, which has seen the Heathrow-based airline take on a significantly enhanced network. Bmi has no current 757s in its fleet and to avoid any maintenance over-complication, will damp lease[sup.1] both 757 aircraft from Astraeus as it ramps up services to Tel Aviv and Freetown (Sierra Leone), among others. The two Boeing aircraft featuring business and economy cabins, will be leased for an initial two-year period, with an option to extend. Feb 13, 2008

Bmi will lease two Boeing 757-200s to expand its medium-haul network further from London Heathrow. In December, Chairman Michael Bishop said that bmi was looking for additional capacity, possibly 757s or 767-200s, to support growth on several former BMED routes that were performing well. The aircraft have been wet-leased from Astraeus for two years with an option to extend. Two separate cabins will offer a mix of business and economy service. Feb 15, 2008

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