An announcement like this from the bmi board (I agree, if it's going to happen then it must be announced) will no doubt have an impact on bookings for the other branches within the bmi group, mainline and regional. All of the issues within the group at the moment make the bmi brand name rather unattractive for the average punter to book their next flight with. Mainline, regional and baby, on paper may be different concerns, but to Joe Public bmi is bmi is bmi. It must be a very difficult consideration for the board to come to this decision based on Joes' perspective of the whole group.