BMI
Join Date: Mar 2004
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Dear Colleague
The day has arrived after five years as CEO for me to hand over the reins to Wolfgang Prock-Schauer. This will happen officially at midnight tonight.
I have already said sufficient for you to understand that I am extremely happy with Wolfgang’s appointment. He is the right man to lead the bmi group forward. His experience and knowledge of the way that our main shareholder Lufthansa works will be invaluable to us all as we navigate our way through these turbulent times. I cannot think of a safer and surer pair of hands at the helm, but he will need the backing of everyone and I can assure you he certainly has mine.
As for myself, I am not leaving, just taking on a different role as Deputy Chairman. I will be fighting the corner for bmi wherever the Board and Wolfgang direct me and you can be assured I am still as passionate as ever about bmi and for the future success of the company. We have three great companies with experienced and talented managing directors in Dominic, Stewart and Crawford. All three airlines operate to an extremely high standard within their own markets and deliver excellent service with the highest levels of operational integrity. I am very proud to have been associated with them for the past five years.
On a personal note, I feel I have been very well supported during my time as CEO which, due to unprecedented market circumstances, has probably been our most challenging ever. I would like to thank you all for that support. I could not have asked for a more loyal group of managers and staff and for that I am truly grateful. Last week was a very tough week for us all, but if we battle on through and keep on doing what we do best, together with the extra support Lufthansa is committing to us, then I am very optimistic about the future.
Finally, I will be keeping my mobile phone number (xxxxx) and bmi email address (xxxxxx) and for information my personal email is (xxxxx). I look forward to keeping in contact with as many of you as possible.
In the meantime, please give Wolfgang your full and undivided support and commitment as he takes bmi on the next steps of its long and illustrious history.
Thank you.
Kind regards
Nigel
The day has arrived after five years as CEO for me to hand over the reins to Wolfgang Prock-Schauer. This will happen officially at midnight tonight.
I have already said sufficient for you to understand that I am extremely happy with Wolfgang’s appointment. He is the right man to lead the bmi group forward. His experience and knowledge of the way that our main shareholder Lufthansa works will be invaluable to us all as we navigate our way through these turbulent times. I cannot think of a safer and surer pair of hands at the helm, but he will need the backing of everyone and I can assure you he certainly has mine.
As for myself, I am not leaving, just taking on a different role as Deputy Chairman. I will be fighting the corner for bmi wherever the Board and Wolfgang direct me and you can be assured I am still as passionate as ever about bmi and for the future success of the company. We have three great companies with experienced and talented managing directors in Dominic, Stewart and Crawford. All three airlines operate to an extremely high standard within their own markets and deliver excellent service with the highest levels of operational integrity. I am very proud to have been associated with them for the past five years.
On a personal note, I feel I have been very well supported during my time as CEO which, due to unprecedented market circumstances, has probably been our most challenging ever. I would like to thank you all for that support. I could not have asked for a more loyal group of managers and staff and for that I am truly grateful. Last week was a very tough week for us all, but if we battle on through and keep on doing what we do best, together with the extra support Lufthansa is committing to us, then I am very optimistic about the future.
Finally, I will be keeping my mobile phone number (xxxxx) and bmi email address (xxxxxx) and for information my personal email is (xxxxx). I look forward to keeping in contact with as many of you as possible.
In the meantime, please give Wolfgang your full and undivided support and commitment as he takes bmi on the next steps of its long and illustrious history.
Thank you.
Kind regards
Nigel
Join Date: Sep 2005
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bmi used to have an excellent and easy to use self-check-in system at the airports but, at LHR T1 on Sunday morning, most of their check-in machines were broken down and the few that were working were causing endless trouble for passengers who were completely flummoxed by unnecessary changes. One passenger told me he tried swiping his Diamond Club card in three of the "working" machines and not one of them recognised his flight. I tried mine once and it didn't work for me either. Why would anyone want to change a perfectly good system?
A member of staff I briefly spoke to suggested I write to the management and complain. From what I read here it looks like it wouldn't be worth the postage stamp!!
A member of staff I briefly spoke to suggested I write to the management and complain. From what I read here it looks like it wouldn't be worth the postage stamp!!
Join Date: Aug 2004
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When you have a bean counter in charge who knows the cost of everything but doesn't know the value of anything there's trouble ahead.
What's been lacking is vision and someone with the leadership skills to drive the Company towards that vision.
Having a charisma bypass doesn't help either!
But tomorrow is a new day with a new leader so perhaps it would be worth investing your stamp to see what the new era will bring.
What's been lacking is vision and someone with the leadership skills to drive the Company towards that vision.
Having a charisma bypass doesn't help either!
But tomorrow is a new day with a new leader so perhaps it would be worth investing your stamp to see what the new era will bring.
I even thought about calling him. Maybe after a few more beers.....
When you have a bean counter in charge who knows the cost of everything but doesn't know the value of anything there's trouble ahead.
Nuff said....
Last edited by RevMan2; 1st Dec 2009 at 20:10.
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Ayroplain - totally agree with you. It's gone from a swift/simple self check-in to a long winded one, for little perceivable advantage. I mean - what the heck does it matter whether I'm male or female when I'm checking in to a domestic flight of 1 hours duration?
Still, at least I still don't need to produce my passport/driving license etc as with all the lovely 'no-frills' airlines.
Still, at least I still don't need to produce my passport/driving license etc as with all the lovely 'no-frills' airlines.
Join Date: Nov 2004
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what the heck does it matter whether I'm male or female
How other airlines get around this I'm not sure, and yes it does seem to be a rather pointless addition to the process as they (and others) got round it before...
I wish all the best for you guys at bmi, let's hope there's some proper management going on in the CEO's office today. I'm not holding my breath.
Weights are based on the numbers of males/females/children/infants travelling.
Average adult weights, children, infants.
No further differentiation AFAIAA
It's probably some bloody nanny-state ruling that males - predatory pedophiles all - aren't allowed to sit within 5 rows of children or some such nonsense
Join Date: Aug 2006
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Average weights are used for males/females/children/infants. Not too much of a problem with Airbuses but it sure does make a difference on the Embraers !
However I agree , there are too many steps with the new self-serve software, hopefuly these can be amended quickly, IBM have said they can make changes much quicker then Lufthansa systems (the old provider) could.
However I agree , there are too many steps with the new self-serve software, hopefuly these can be amended quickly, IBM have said they can make changes much quicker then Lufthansa systems (the old provider) could.
Lady Lexxington
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The new system of self check in does allows the passenger to enter their passport and visa details, which is great for our pax travelling midhaul andonly carrying handbaggage.
Join Date: Sep 2006
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Originally Posted by jerboy
In terms of the loadsheet it certainly does. Weights are based on the numbers of males/females/children/infants travelling.
How other airlines get around this I'm not sure, and yes it does seem to be a rather pointless addition to the process as they (and others) got round it before..
How other airlines get around this I'm not sure, and yes it does seem to be a rather pointless addition to the process as they (and others) got round it before..
along with the infant/child data that is surely entered during the booking process too (unless passengers now pay an adult fare for infants)?
Personally I prefer to use a check-in desk - I like th human contact
I could have coped with the charisma bypass, it was the "having the skills to run an airline in the 21st century" bypass that I had a problem with. Bloke is a complete numpty who would have been out of his depth half way up the accounts department. How on earth SMB ever thought he was the man for the job I will never know, he has crippled the airline over the last 10 years, good riddance to him.
Last edited by Max Angle; 3rd Dec 2009 at 12:32.
Well said Max Angle.
I won't go into details or mention names but I have personally witnessed behaviour from present and past senior members of the management team that was utterly astounding for it's unprofessionalism and petulence. In fact the biggest t*sser I have met in almost 20 years in the industry was one of them. They did actually fire the tw@t eventually.
Some of these people would be put to shame in the playground of an infant school never mind the board room of a major airline.
If my experiences are anything to go by, no wonder the whole company has gone down the toilet.
I won't go into details or mention names but I have personally witnessed behaviour from present and past senior members of the management team that was utterly astounding for it's unprofessionalism and petulence. In fact the biggest t*sser I have met in almost 20 years in the industry was one of them. They did actually fire the tw@t eventually.
Some of these people would be put to shame in the playground of an infant school never mind the board room of a major airline.
If my experiences are anything to go by, no wonder the whole company has gone down the toilet.
An Engineering contract at LHR where around 45 Engineers perform some line checks on Cathay 747s at the bmi hangar most days of the week, it probably means another batch of Engineers to go. 
Join Date: Aug 2008
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the Cathay engineering contract looks like being renewed, which would safeguard some engineering jobs.
Checks are done every 650 hours, which Cathay tried to get extended to 1000 hours. This was declined, so a glimmer of good news amongst all the other **** going on at the moment.
Checks are done every 650 hours, which Cathay tried to get extended to 1000 hours. This was declined, so a glimmer of good news amongst all the other **** going on at the moment.
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Sadly the Cathay contract wasn't renewed, as Cathay got 850 hours from the CAA, so 40 odd engineers to go from the hangar, plus a few actual Cathay engineers based in our hangar.
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BMI Insists We Are Not In Financial Crisis?
This was reported in the TTG recently.
BMI was forced to issue a statement this week insisting that it was a going concern after the Times reported claims that it might not be able to continue to operate beyond next year.
The carrier said that it executives and directors claim they would be able to meet it's financial obligations and has 'Adequate Resources' to continue operations.
The report also claimed BMI needed £190 million of extra funding by the end of October 2010.
It said LH - Lufthansa had pledged £95 million and BMI hoped to find the rest by putting slots up for sale at LHR.
But BMI's accountant Deloitte warned of NO GUARANTEE of any more support from LH.
As quoted in the TTG.
BMI was forced to issue a statement this week insisting that it was a going concern after the Times reported claims that it might not be able to continue to operate beyond next year.
The carrier said that it executives and directors claim they would be able to meet it's financial obligations and has 'Adequate Resources' to continue operations.
The report also claimed BMI needed £190 million of extra funding by the end of October 2010.
It said LH - Lufthansa had pledged £95 million and BMI hoped to find the rest by putting slots up for sale at LHR.
But BMI's accountant Deloitte warned of NO GUARANTEE of any more support from LH.
As quoted in the TTG.
