BMI Baby and BMI Regional to be "soaked" up by someone (FlyBe?)...???
Loganair - Scott Grier to sell completley (FlyBe, Eastern?) as he is over 60 now, I suspect waiting for his knighthood for services to Scottish aviation! Or to become another franchise partner (FlyBe, Eastern?)...???
No real sign of the likes of Jet2 or Globespan folding at all, they will continue to change routes, add new aircraft (B763?) dramatically as forced by the market conditions but will never become a major player. The changes will keep them a "bottom of the list" employer for pilots as they "play at it".
Summer 2008 will now see only 2 major charter carriers in the UK - Thomas Cook and whatever the branding is between Thomson and First Choice. I would not expect that much change in 2008 but expect severe shrinkage in 2009 with fleet evaluation and Peter Long trying to regain 5% profit margins - Thomsonfly LoCo days have to be numbered, first arrival of european 787 etc etc...but thats for this time next year!!!!!
Monarch/Astraeus/Excel will just continue doing what they do very well, with B787's coming at Monarch, B763 for Astraeus and A330's for Excel...kinda makes you think the charter market future is long haul only!!!!!!!
Late 2008 - easyJet to become UK's national carrier!!!!!
