BMI
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Teesside, UK
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Looks like bmi are putting an E135 onto LHR-MME from 2nd February 2009, with A319's replacing the 135 on the JER. So where does the MME 145 go?
Is this LH's first influence or just a bit of re-arranging by bmi?
Is this LH's first influence or just a bit of re-arranging by bmi?
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Courchevel
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Lufthansa very unlikely to sell to Virgin Atlantic who seem to be almost desperate to forge a link/merger with bmi. Co-operation is the more likely option as Lufthansa has waited for a long time to realise their initial investment many years ago and would be unlikely to give it up to Sir Dickie. Another option is for LH to buy the Singapore 49% of VS and merge the two entities. Who knows? One thing for certain is that bmi isn't performing particularly well and neither is Virgin Atlantic. Lufthansa offers a safety net for bmi due to their strong position as consolidation takes place in aviation, Virgin remains exposed without an alliance or feeder network into London Heathrow as they cope with the fallout of open skies. Both airlines are really feeling the squeeze as the economic situation worsens by the day. You need deep pockets to be in the airline business right now.
Join Date: Mar 2007
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Lufthansa Keeps Open Mind On Virgin/BMI
December 11, 2008: 01:27 PM ET
CHICAGO -(Dow Jones)- Deutsche Lufthansa AG (LHA.XE) said Thursday that it is not in serious talks with Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd. about potential cooperation over British Midland Airways Ltd., or bmi, in which the German airline is in the process of buying a majority stake.
But Lufthansa said it maintains an open mind about potential cooperation with Virgin Atlantic.
The German flag carrier also said it had the capacity to absorb more acquisitions and strategic stakes on top of the various ones it has made in Europe and the U.S. in recent months.
"From a management point of view, we can do much more," Wolfgang Mayrhuber, Lufthansa's chairman and chief executive, said at an industry event in Chicago.
Virgin Atlantic said Wednesday that it had held talks with Lufthansa about the future of bmi, which controls a number of slots at London's Heathrow Airport.
Expressions of interest in some sort of cooperation or tie-up between bmi and Virgin Atlantic have not led to serious negotiations, said Klaus Walther, Lufthansa's senior vice president corporate communications.
"We want to find out what [Virgin] wants," noted Walther. He said it would be "logical" to integrate bmi into the Lufthansa group, adding that "there are other options."
Lufthansa is set to lift its stake in bmi, which focuses on short- and medium- haul flights in Europe, from 30% minus one share to 80% next month.
Europe's second-largest carrier by traffic after Air France-KLM SA (3112.FR), Lufthansa recently has expanded through the acquisition of Swiss International Airlines and a 45% stake in Brussels Airlines, with a pending deal to take a 41.6% share in Austrian Airlines (AUA.VI). It has a 19% stake in JetBlue Airways Corp. (JBLU), a low-fare U.S. carrier.
Lufthansa has also been linked with taking a stake in SAS Scandinavian Airline Systems, and is keeping an eye on the restructuring of Italian flag carrier Alitalia (AZA.MI).
Mayrhuber said Lufthansa's model eschews outright mergers: "Our concept is a modular one. It's like a planetary system that works together."
He said complete integration brings "dis-synergies." Lufthansa prefers an approach he described as "one kitchen, several restaurants".
Nigel Turner, bmi's chief executive, declined to comment on the prospect of any deal with Virgin Atlantic.
-By Doug Cameron, Dow Jones Newswires
December 11, 2008: 01:27 PM ETCHICAGO -(Dow Jones)- Deutsche Lufthansa AG (LHA.XE) said Thursday that it is not in serious talks with Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd. about potential cooperation over British Midland Airways Ltd., or bmi, in which the German airline is in the process of buying a majority stake.
But Lufthansa said it maintains an open mind about potential cooperation with Virgin Atlantic.
The German flag carrier also said it had the capacity to absorb more acquisitions and strategic stakes on top of the various ones it has made in Europe and the U.S. in recent months.
"From a management point of view, we can do much more," Wolfgang Mayrhuber, Lufthansa's chairman and chief executive, said at an industry event in Chicago.
Virgin Atlantic said Wednesday that it had held talks with Lufthansa about the future of bmi, which controls a number of slots at London's Heathrow Airport.
Expressions of interest in some sort of cooperation or tie-up between bmi and Virgin Atlantic have not led to serious negotiations, said Klaus Walther, Lufthansa's senior vice president corporate communications.
"We want to find out what [Virgin] wants," noted Walther. He said it would be "logical" to integrate bmi into the Lufthansa group, adding that "there are other options."
Lufthansa is set to lift its stake in bmi, which focuses on short- and medium- haul flights in Europe, from 30% minus one share to 80% next month.
Europe's second-largest carrier by traffic after Air France-KLM SA (3112.FR), Lufthansa recently has expanded through the acquisition of Swiss International Airlines and a 45% stake in Brussels Airlines, with a pending deal to take a 41.6% share in Austrian Airlines (AUA.VI). It has a 19% stake in JetBlue Airways Corp. (JBLU), a low-fare U.S. carrier.
Lufthansa has also been linked with taking a stake in SAS Scandinavian Airline Systems, and is keeping an eye on the restructuring of Italian flag carrier Alitalia (AZA.MI).
Mayrhuber said Lufthansa's model eschews outright mergers: "Our concept is a modular one. It's like a planetary system that works together."
He said complete integration brings "dis-synergies." Lufthansa prefers an approach he described as "one kitchen, several restaurants".
Nigel Turner, bmi's chief executive, declined to comment on the prospect of any deal with Virgin Atlantic.
-By Doug Cameron, Dow Jones Newswires
So Sir Richard Branson makes public statement about VS talking to LH about a tie-up with BMI only to have the Germans say "that it is not in serious talks with Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd. about potential cooperation over British Midland Airways Ltd., or bmi, "
More beardy spin I think...........
More beardy spin I think...........
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Riyadh
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Hi. Looking for a flight to Beijing from MAN. Does anybody know of any way to get a through ticket with the BMI shuttles and on to Air China?
I was surprised to learn that Air China do not offer this on the internet nor do BMI, am I missing a blindingly obvious reason why there is no star alliance link?
If not it'll be KLM!
DAr19
I was surprised to learn that Air China do not offer this on the internet nor do BMI, am I missing a blindingly obvious reason why there is no star alliance link?
If not it'll be KLM!
DAr19
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: England
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There is a connection through a BMI code share on Lufthansa to Frankfurt, and on to Air China. You could go Lufthansa all the way,which is cheaper.
See Expedia.
Regards,
Jubilee
See Expedia.
Regards,
Jubilee
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Dublin
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Anyone know if BD have any plans in regard to their handling arrangments at LHR with Aviance? It just doesnt seem to be working, we had a flight today arrive minus 22 local bags and no sign of when they are going to arrive!
Ive spoken to many BD staff from LHR and they say Aviance just provide them with problem after problem.
Ive spoken to many BD staff from LHR and they say Aviance just provide them with problem after problem.
Join Date: May 2005
Location: U.K
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As regards BD, Aviance just load and unload the bags - all check-in and Dispatcher functions are performed by BD's own staff which is usually the problem as to why bags don't travel and thus fail to arrive at their destination.
The96er
The96er