1) easyJet / bmibaby merger unlikely to happen. Why would easyJet want to take on our cost base, ageing 737s considering most of them are ex-EZY which they wanted to retire, bases at airports which are already close to EZY ones and deal with all the stresses of a merger when organic growth is easier?
2) bmibaby is already a profitable member of the group, so comments that we need to pull our weight are unfounded.
3) bmibaby is charging for hold luggage like more and more low-cost airlines to cover the cost of baggage handling, check in leases as well as the excess fuel needed for people carrying more luggage.
4) Whilst service standards may have slipped since the company was British Midland, the bmibaby brand has been successful, service is better than some rival low-cost airlines evident from the awards we continue to win and the uniforms introduced in 2005 were a huge improvement over the old ones.
5) bmibaby are currently sorting out their fleet plan for next summer. There is an aircraft arriving I believe in March which is currently unassigned to a base. Could be EMA, could be CWL.