bmibaby...it sure is !!

[Little Blue]

Well the "secret" is out....
bmibaby...hmmmm..we like it..how about u? <img src="wink.gif" border="0"> <img src="smile.gif" border="0"> <img src="wink.gif" border="0">

[cheer up]

I suppose the cabin crew will be called 'babydolls' :)

[Electric Sky]

from bmi's website:

bmi announces the arrival of bmibaby - new no frills airline born at East Midlands Airport - bmibaby's guardian announced -


bmi british midland is delighted to announce the birth of its new no frills airline, bmibaby, which was born today at East Midlands Airport. The baby’s birthday suit will be unveiled at an official party next week, along with a celebratory launch promotion.

The party will be hosted by bmibaby’s new guardian and managing director, Tony Davis, who said:

“I am thrilled to be responsible for bmi’s new offspring and have been delighted by the overwhelming response from the public, that we have had to our announcement, launching the East Midlands’ own no frills airline. Indeed the response has been so great, I am extremely confident that we will be able to extend even further, our range of destinations on offer, through our ability to bring further aircraft into the fleet of bmibaby.

“I am also looking forward to the competition that bmibaby will bring to the East Midlands. Indeed, I fully understand why Go has thrown its toys out of the pram.

“Their disappointment must surely be because their desperate attempts to pre-empt our own plans, with an announcement of unspecific promises of phantom services at East Midlands Airport, did not thwart our own long held ambition to launch a no frills airline.

"Go must now surely cut the rhetoric and put its money where its mouth is. Now is the time to tell the people of the East Midlands just when and where they will fly. The commitment of bmi has always been clear and we have never shirked away from competition – a quality that will definitely be inherited by bmibaby.“

Austin Reid, chief executive officer of bmi british midland, also commented:

“I am delighted to be able to announce the appointment of Tony Davis as managing director of our new no frills airline and am confident that he is ideally suited to this new role. Tony has a wide range of experience in the airline industry, most recently as our director of government and corporate relations. We are committed to providing genuine competition to consumers in a wide range of markets, including the niche market of no frills travel. bmi british midland, at the same time, maintains its commitment, as a full service airline, to the development of our services in Europe and to the USA, particularly from our main operating hubs at Heathrow and Manchester.”

bmibaby will be flying a dedicated fleet of Boeing 737-300 aircraft and serve an extensive range of key leisure destinations, including high frequency services to Barcelona, Nice, Palma, Malaga, Faro and Alicante. Internet fares on bmibaby will start at just £25 each way, and services will commence on 23 March – a week before the Easter Bank Holiday. Seats on bmibaby will be on sale later this month.


can't wait to see the logo!!

ES <img src="wink.gif" border="0">

[Little Blue]

I can see the billboards already...
bmibaby......WHO'S THE DADDY !????? <img src="wink.gif" border="0"> <img src="wink.gif" border="0">

[newswatcher]

Ah, no doubt they will be launching to the sound of the Ronettes. Long time since I heard that!

[Max Angle]

"bmibaby" yuk!. I think most of us in bmi spent last week hoping the rumours were not true. I give up.

[mainfrog2]

I think some senior airline management are spending too much time on far and distant planets. Pity the poor staff who are going to have to work with this one.

[crackerjack]

So Austin Read is the chief exec of bmi. Sounds more like something Austin Powers dreamt up.

Yeah Baby.

[dik dastardly]

with new T's and C's for this venture, 'poor' may be the operative word. Heard about 20 of the 737 guys on the chop list are headin for GO anyway. Good Luck to those affected by redundancy.

[flyingfrog]

The name will prove to be very catchy! I think overall it will be a good name.

All bmibaby need to do is add flights to AMS and DUB, and they are on to a winner.

[hassel]

Meet the crew!
http://www.stopstart.fsnet.co.uk/Gif/magg.gif
http://www.stopstart.fsnet.co.uk/mica/babe.gif

[Scottie]

What's the callsign going to be? Diaper? :) <img src="rolleyes.gif" border="0"> <img src="wink.gif" border="0"> :) <img src="rolleyes.gif" border="0"> <img src="wink.gif" border="0">

[Gaza]

Tacky? Maybe. Clever? Certainly!

B My(i) Baby

You could bet your last pound that none of the airline exec's thought of this name. It probably came from some very expensive brand consultancy.

[ 17 January 2002: Message edited by: Gaza ]</p>

[corsaman]

certainly wasn't a natural birth, this one - more of an immaculate concept, pinched from GO....

[Big Tudor]

Just wait til they get the first demanding letter from the Child Support Agency.

[OrsonCart]

Please not a bright pink colour scheme?

[Ops Bangle]

And whats wrong with pink? ... Ahh Princess Air, come back all is forgiven.

[Hugh Jorgen]

Well it's certainly not a Virgin birth, someone is always screwing someone at BMI!! <img src="tongue.gif" border="0">

[eeper]

Just think...Go could have been B A Baby!!

[Little Blue]

Well...they're certainly behaving like one !!!
By the way, anyone had a word with George Dawes about fronting the advertising blurb???..
"He's a baby..he's a baby" etc etc...... :) :) <img src="wink.gif" border="0">

[Capt Crash]

Any idea where the crews are coming from, are they going to 'post' crews from BMI? Or is it new jobs, we could do with some good news.

[flite idol]

Can`t wait to make some crank calls when the telephone reservation system is up and running. Surely they won`t answer the phone "hello, be my baby and how can I help you." Bart`s dream come true.!

[schwabn]

What a ridiculous and stupid name this is!! If they are shooting themselves in the foot here, then mainly with that name.

[wooof]

OK all you music buffs, the Ronettes did the original but am I right in thinking the Bay City Rollers did a cover version? (I'm just thinking ahead for the ads).

[Stagnation Point]

The crews won't wear hats it will be bonnets. <img src="rolleyes.gif" border="0"> <img src="rolleyes.gif" border="0"> <img src="rolleyes.gif" border="0">

"Will that be a rusk with your milk sir"

[brabazon]

woof

Are you not thinking of Bye Bye Baby by Bay City Rollers - maybe that will be go's response!!

[alterego]

STAGNATION POINT

If the crews don't wear hats they must be the 146 crews who have just been laid off from BeMI Regional!

[cabin lad]

I think it's cool! Good luck to you all - I love it. <img src="wink.gif" border="0">

[wooof]

brabazon

Yes on reflection you're absolutely right, just as well me thinks.

[lgtjanssen]

Gaza, you're absolutely right. I already know which song will faeture BMIbaby's commercials.

It's "Be My Baby" from The Ronetts If you look at the lyrics I can some some very good marketing potential. Moreover the catchy chorus..

(Be my be my baby) Be my little baby
(I want it only say) Say you'll be my darling
(Be my be my baby) Be my baby now
(I want it only say) Ooh, ohh, ohh, oh

..will be an excellent marketing tool.

BTW for the rest of the lyrics see

<a href="http://mujweb.cz/kultura/dirtydancing/lyrics.html#bemybaby" target="_blank">http://mujweb.cz/kultura/dirtydancing/lyrics.html#bemybaby</a>

[Devils Advocate]

Heads Up !!!

Whilst one can be certain that the BMI marketing boyz are all blowing each others trumpets over the name that they've cum up with, it may turn out to be a bit premature, i.e. you had better get their spelling just right (e.g. don't spell it as it sounds) lest you get delivered to something far more 'entertaining' !!! <img src="redface.gif" border="0">

That said, let me take this opportunity to say thanks to BMI for this inadvertent top-link ! :)

Ps. Mrs Snodgrass, from staff-travel, has not been quite the same since ! <img src="eek.gif" border="0">

[F3]

I think it's a pretty funky name!
Good luck bmi babes! <img src="cool.gif" border="0">

[airbourne]

Lets leave Go out of this one. I dont think Ryanair and Easyjet are just going to let them go on their merry way!! Like 2 bullies in the playgrond there gonna punish them!!

Personally I dont think the last 12 months for BMI have been that good, firstly the luke warm reception to the name change, then nearly new A330s in storage, and now this 'everyone else is doing so why dont we' low frills airline! The next 12 months is going to be difficult for many, especially British Midland.

[Little Blue]

..Just how do you think Easyjet and Ryanair are going to punish us??
What a negative posting.
Do you really think that bmi were going to sit there and let go come into our own backyard and pinch all our business?
Would you just roll over and let em kick you?
This is a very bold move by bmi, and the mood within the company is very positive.
Tell you what, u come back to me in 12 months and then we'll see who's being punished !! <img src="mad.gif" border="0"> <img src="mad.gif" border="0">

[Mr Bean]

Mmmmmm. Not too sure about the name. Maybe it will GROW on everyone with age. But I have to say that its raised a few comments from people, I think they call that advertising/marketing stratergy. If people are talking about it, that is raising not only the presence of the new low cost airline,but also the Bmi brand, beit mainline or regional. Advertising is something Bmi has not done much of recently, so all these comments maybe suggest that its not such a stupid name. The low cost outfits have had it too good for too long, lets take the fight to them.(maybe I'll get my job back,109 club) <img src="wink.gif" border="0">

[gurnzee]

what do you call a bmibaby pilot?

a baby sitter!

p.s. it wasn't me <img src="smile.gif" border="0">

[outofsynch]

What I cant understand, is where bmi think they can do it better than Continental, BA or any other 'major' that has tried this strategy.

CO certainly didnt enjoy the association of the 'full service' operation, with 'no-frills'. People will confuse the two.

But who knows, bmi may be the first to succed. I dont like their chances. I would just hate to see the whole lot go down the dunny!

[Ringwayman]

airbourne

There is but a single A330 in storage...the other two are plying their trade in their accustomed manner of daily to Chicago and 6 weekly to Washington.

The one in storage was the one leased to SAS who returned it early when they adjusted their transatlantic schedule.

Ringwayman

[boris]

For the last 35 years to my certain knowledge, bmi and its forebears have experienced crises just like any other airline in this time. The one difference from many others is that they are still here. They have provided jobs for hundreds, no, thousands of pilots in this time and there have been precious FEW redundancies along the way.

Times are changing and a lot of people who should know better, should not become too precious when the company hits back at percieved opposition in their own back yard. EMA probably would not be in existence were it not for BMA over the years. BMA would not be in existence had it not been for the almost superhuman efforts of the likes of Sir MDB and John Woolfe. These are the true pioneers. These are the people who built up the company to what it now is. Please, folks, give the company credit for what it is and what it has been and allow their successors to get on with operating airlines and maintaining their position within the structure of British airlines so that we can all continue to benefit.

Stop knocking bmi!

[moleslayer]

Hear,Hear,well said....

Bring back John Woolfe I say,he'll sort it out!! <img src="wink.gif" border="0">

[BEagle]

An airline whose name has more than 2 or 3 syllables sounds utterly contrived. EasyJet, RyanAir, Virgin, BA, Brymon, buzz are all easy enough - but bmiBritmidlandish or whatever the stupid luvvy name for BM now is.....

This utterly daft new name will only help the pony-tailed designer-stubble idiots who dream up such stupid names to come up with more drivel - like 'My Little Airline' or whatever and they'll think that they're succesful only because people are talking about 'their brand' - even if it's to say it's just rubbish.

Plus it sounds as though their flights would be packed with screaming kids. No thanks!!

[ 20 January 2002: Message edited by: BEagle ]</p>

[Sleeve Wing]

C'mon, BEagle.
You don't really think it will stay as all that gobbledygook when BMI has caught on ? <img src="wink.gif" border="0"> <img src="wink.gif" border="0">

[yasserfat]

Ladies & Gentlemen, WHO REALLY CARES WHAT IT'S CALLED? Most important thing is it's a new airline with low prices, but probably not low costs! And it will compete. So what? Isn't that what they all do?

[airbourne]

Ringwayman,

How much does an A330 cost every day it sits on the ground gathering dust?

LittleBlue,

The bigs boys in low frills Europe will tear your little bmibaby apart in the press, why? Because the can!! They have the money for it. Apart from that I hope you make money and keep people in a job, but incorparating the bmi name into a low frills airline is not going to do you any favours.

Lets all see how this pans out!

[Young Paul]

"How much does a 330 cost?"

Depends on the terms and conditions you got from Airbus, doesn't it? And how much SAS committed themselves to paying if they ended the contract early.

Incidentally, bmi/British Midland has managed to run charter operations with a pretty separate identity over the last ten years to my knowledge and the branding problems have not been too great.

[ 20 January 2002: Message edited by: Exile from Groggs ]</p>

[Anne.Nonymous]

airbourne

The A330 is being used sporadically for adhoc charters and will be used to start the long haul out of LHR shortly. In the meantime the 4th A330 has a while before it is delivered.

As to the future of bmi, they saw the demise of Air Europe, Dan and a number of lesser airlines both in UK and other European countries - including yours! They will be around for quite a while to come.

Anne

PS I like your Irish spell checker &lt; <img src="wink.gif" border="0">

[airbourne]

Nice to see we've reached the level of maturity at prune where we dont have to correct spelling mistakes!! <img src="mad.gif" border="0">

Hey!, I hope it works for them, I just think another low frills airlines in an ever tight market is not a great idea.

[Copenhagen]

The SAS A330 contract was on a "power by the hour" basis. Now that we are not using it... we are not paying for it. If we were, it would be parked in CPH!

[JetMender]

"The A330 is being used for ad-hoc charters" mmmm... with 1 engine removed?

[Ace Rimmer]

Well back to the earlier bit of the thread here at Rimmer News this afternonn across my desk came an invitation to the bmibaby launch on Wednesday - apparently includes a karioke competition - but limited to songs with 'baby' in them. Could be scouting for new jingles I suppose. :)