Dear Colleagues,
Since my last update to you we have had further discussions with BA and have now completed the integration proposals for bmi mainline. For bmi Regional and bmibaby, discussions with potential buyers continue.
As you know, the integration of the bmi mainline business into BA is crucial in order to achieve the synergies needed to make the business viable. It is therefore important that we act fast, so today we will begin a 90 day consultation with our union partners and elected representatives who were not part of the commercial consultation. At the meetings we will consult on proposals to integrate bmi mainline into BA.
The proposal is to completely integrate bmi into BA in time for the start of the winter 2012 schedule. This means that the bmi brand will disappear and our fleet will be repainted in British Airways’ livery and transferred to BA in a phased manner. The bmi AOC will cease to exist after the integration process has been completed. All commercial and operational activities will be integrated into BA and the head office and support functions will be absorbed.
The operational integration at LHR would secure jobs for up to 1,500 bmi mainline staff. Around 1,100 bmi cabin crew, pilots and engineers based at Heathrow would join BA and up to 400 passenger services jobs would be secured at Heathrow Terminal 1.
Regrettably, the integration proposals will lead to up to 1,200 redundancies. These roles are primarily based in the Midlands, at regional airports and in support, commercial and overhead functions. In the case of redundancies bmi's redundancy arrangements would apply.
We deeply regret that there will be job losses. Please understand that integration was the best possible solution for our business. *Consultation will seek to mitigate the impact of these potential redundancies, including matching to vacancies in British Airways at Heathrow. BA and bmi are also working on potential job opportunities with industry partners in the Midlands, such as Rolls-Royce.
Today a number of staff briefings will take place in key locations and the details of these meetings will be communicated to you shortly.
Please note that until completion takes place, which is expected around 20th April, there are still restrictions on the exchange of information; your manager can provide guidance as needed.
We will continue to keep you updated and you can continue to contact the XXXX email address with any queries you may have. We will publish those questions we can answer at this stage on the dedicated section on the bmi group intranet.
With best regards,
Wolfgang Prock-Schauer