The reason that the proposed BMI Luton/Brussels service has been scrapped is because BMI couldn't get the morning slot that it wanted for its first departure.
For the first time ever, the 0700 to 0800 hour Mons to Fris is now virtually full with 25 departures and 5 arrivals already coordinated by ACL most weekdays. Luton still does not require ACL to coordinate corporate movements and so with the runway hourly rate still declared at 32 this leaves just 2 slots available in this hour for corporate, positioning and other uncoordinated ad-hoc movements.
LLAO is also looking to accommodate two or three 40 movement hours each day, Mons to Fris from next May, the movement split being roughly 25% departures and 75% arrivals - this figure is based on requested slots but again, doesn't include corporate flights.
BMI was just unlucky as it was looking for a fairly early departure ex. Luton, for the first rotation.
Even the 0600 to 0700 hour from about Easter 2006 onwards is already being booked to the extent of 25 movements in that period (excluding corporates).
Good news for Luton and as has been said by others, the LLAO management isn't shedding any tears over BMI!!!
