Midland 331

BMI Baby complete their final rotation from EMA at around 1130 tonight (09Sep).

So end some of the last ops of one of the UK's most enduring and distinctive carriers at their base. I understand that BMI Mainline have a while yet to go.

As some kind of celebration of past glories, there are over 150 images from the old days here..

Flickr: Classic British Midland Airways

Please feel free to recall the good and bad bits of British Midland here.

r

merlinxx

No you nicked the Syrian Air contract from us, and then screwed that up

Midland 331

I was amazed Mr Bishop had the guts to wet lease those geriatric jets to obscure carriers, considering their likely credit ratings...

It was an extremely bold piece of entrepreneurship. I seem to recall the company winning a Queen's Award for Industry.

(And please, let's keep this thread positive.)

Dave Clarke Fife

I don't think bmi mainline disappears until the end of October so all this talk of "the last ops of one of the UK's most enduring and distinctive carriers" is slightly premature. It is going to surely happen and will be a very sad day for many past and present members of the best airline that nobody knew about.

lexoncd

Happy memories as a passenger.

Diamond class domestic service with a hot breakfast to start the day. Warm scones and cream tea during the day and hot dinner at night.

Uk domestic from Manchester even had a hot breakfast with trimmings when they started.

I really started using BD over BA was when on one of my weekly jaunts to Oslo I used to return to the UK on a Friday night. There were two evening BA flights and one BD. One week for some unknown reason I ended up on BD... Initially not too happy but the service was excellent and to cap it all after the meal they came round with hot sponge pudding and custard....Now after a week of fish, fish and more fish on a cold winters evening that little thing made the difference. I soon became Gold member and still have many of my od diamond club cards and unused upgrade vouchers

Finally, Transatlantic was something else. Brand new A330's with great crew excellent service and from manchester.

Good luck to all.

Shackman

Certainly sorry to see BMI Baby go - memories of many pleasant flights out of East Midlands.

Also agree with lexoncd - the best flights ever (as SLF) with BMI across the pond. Admittedly in business (an anniversary present to self and Mrs S) but the service was second to none, starting with the Chef (!!) coming round to talk about dinner! Having resolved it was the only way we would ever travel to the States again, they chopped it.

carlrsymington

On the 30th August 1997 ( I remember the date because HRH Diana died the next morning) I had the luck to be voluntary off loaded 6 times in a row at Belfast providing me with 6 free returns LHR-BFS-LHR.
I then spent them returning to Belfast on many a Friday evening. I loved the whole experience, from boarding the plane, hearing the distinctive Northern Irish accents, hot bacon rolls (breakfast?), the welcome intro from the pilot but not the forecast for usual cr4p Belfast weather. Never felt the same early on Monday mornings though.
Happy days!!!!!
Thank you all the BMI staff who made it happen.
Gone but not forgotten.

Midland 331

@Dave Clarke Fife,

Thanks for the correction. I'm way out of touch with the industry these days, but noted that lots of BMI flight numbers have changed to SHTnnnn on Flight Radar 24, so guessed that the BMI identity is begin wiped out pretty quickly from mainline, regional, etc.

SOPS

One of my best flying memories was a BD Diamond Class flight from AMS to EMA on a very cold and dark winter evening. Getting on board ( I think it might have been a DC9, but I could be wrong) anyway, getting on board, I can always remember feeling that winter had "gone" and "summer" was here...it was such a warm and friendly feeling in the diamond cabin. Proper hot food and drinks, and just a special "warm" atmosphere.

I have flown many many miles on a lot of airlines in the "forward cabins", but I always remember this flight as something special. (and it was quite a few years ago)

LAS1997

I have fond memories of BMA flying as a passenger in their Viscount's between LHR and LBA during the early / mid 1980's; later flying in the DC9-30 aircraft to MME. I also flew in the 737's between LHR and EDI; great in flight service and they certainly challenged BA on the domestic and European routes. BMA were the first to introduce hot meals and BA had to follow suit and replace the coffee and biscuits with meals re-branding as 'Super Shuttle'.

Their standards were very high and it was a credit to the staff and management that the company has lasted all these years.

I guess Virgin will now take up the challenge and attempt to compete with BA on these domestic routes; the interline traffic must make it worth it?

rogera

my first ever flight was on Britsih Midland BAC 1-11 G - AXLL ( I believe her nickname was " limping lill " ) from Lupton to Munich on a school ski-ing holiday in February 1971 returning a week later on Boeing 737 G - AWSY on the same route. I was hooked on aviation from that date ever since

boris

Never had such a pathetic nic-name when I flew her and that was in 1970!

She was a modern, beautiful British aeroplane and always will be...........

Midland 331

Castle Don. and the surrounding area wasn't ready for non-hush kitted Speys...

finncapt

Na rogera

Limping Lil was a 748, G-BFLL, which was owned by Danair but leased to BA Highland Division in the 80's.

With a full load, operating ABZ - JER, you could just about get it to FL130 by overhead Manchester.

Sir George Cayley

The Baby 73s have been dispersed to Norwich and Lasham.

I once phoned Liverpool Speke Airport to ask what time the BMi flight to London left. I was somewhat surprised at the answer - "what time can you get here la?"

SGC

Midland 331

There were two attempts to make Liverpool work with DC9s and three/four rotations.

Considering the loads on Manchester-Heathrow, and the overlapping catchment areas, it was strange that neither attempt was successful. Some suggested a reluctance of the well-heeled from Cheshire to cross The Mersey.

Meanwhile, a sad shot from Norwich..

Bye-bye BMIbaby - Flight Image of the Day

crewmeal

As BA crew I always used to commute from BHX - LHR on those lovely Viscounts. Always on time, always a happy crew who looked after you. On odd occasions a DC9 came on the route. A pleasure to fly with!

goofer

Happy memories of GLA/LHR one snowy evening with, I'm sure, a DC9-10 as the equipment. Seemed very lively. The most friendly cabin crew who gave you 2 miniatures "to save coming back with more."

Years later same hospitable attitude on 321s to Baku - and what about the BM lounge at LHR? Surely the most civilised place from which to watch activity on 27R...

Sir M Bishop set the standard for airline management with his dignified response to Kegworth.

Midland 331

Minatures!

In the heydays of decent cabin service, some of the girl's flight bags were pretty heavy when they came off the last Heathrow at Teesside in the evening...

Hotel Tango

Many fond memories of British Midland. Both my sons were introduced to the Viscount at an early age and loved it. Their then one class Diamond service was brilliant. I remember the days when for a while they operated a DC-9 on BHX-LHR. On a BHX runway 15 departure and LHR runway 27R arrival day, and no ATC delay, could be as little as 20 minutes flying. In this time a full cooked breakfast was served! Those were the days!!