News this morning - From Flight Global.
Good news for Regional.
A group of UK investors, known internally as "Granite", is understood to be carrying out due diligence on the regional subsidiary of BMI.
A number of other parties are rumoured to have been interested in acquiring BMI Regional. The sale is due to close "well before" the upcoming takeover of BMI, which is likely to face competition issues and may not close until the middle of next year, according to the source.
BMI Regional operates a fleet of four Embraer ERJ-135s and 15 Embraer ERJ-145s. The airline is hoping to continue operating the five ERJ-145s it is wet-leasing from BMI, following International Airlines Group's planned acquisition of the mainline carrier, the source said.
Ian Woodley, Graeme Ross and Robert Sturman, who have prominent roles within Granite, are understood to be likely candidates to head up BMI Regional following its takeover.