bmi fokker fleet set to go to bmi regoinal
bmi are due to announce the timetable for transfer of its fokker fleet to bmi regional(ex bizzy air) with the whole regional operation to be run from Aberdeen. My source informs me that the flight watch(nobo)board has had its columns reduced from 20cm to10cm to accomodate the additional a/c. Aberdeen will also take over control of rostering for fokker fleet starting next month. As a by product of this move, the ABZ office will move to a new site by the end August.
By merging these fleets it will allow the transfer of Fokker f/o for command postions on the EMB145/135,and also movement from the145/BAe146 fleet to direct entry command on the Fokker.The CAA are insisting that Regional do not have more than 3 types on their new AOC, and as such the the SAAB phase out program will be accelerated, with all SAABs due to be gone by mid August.
All Guernsey flights will now be operated by Aurigny as a code share, with the Kirkwall&Sumbrugh flights transfered to Logan air using a wet leased SAAB from bmi Regional until the Autumn,one of the two remaining SF340Bs at LEEDS will be replaced by a wet leased EMB135 (SE-RAA) from the 1st June(GLASGOW/JERSEY) with an additional 135 (star alliance colours) due in August, and the wet leased aircraft being replaced in October. The formal annoucements on the above were held back until the(bmc)2/3 year 23.5% paydeal was agreed with the crew council.
Next on regionals v`bizzy(sic) agenda are new routes from ABZ to Norway,LBA to Germany&Belgium,GLA+EDI to Denmark and the establishment of a Manchester base for theEMB145/135,F70/100 in addition to the BAe 146.
[This message has been edited by INKJET (edited 30 April 2001).]