Bmibaby

[JonnyBfs]

Wonder if Belfast will get any new routes?

[aidoair]

Not sure of any more with apparently 2 extra aircraft being added to the fleet.

Have also heard of this. I know it's best to expand slowly and steadily again but ideally they could do with three or four extra frames. One for each base so that the minimum at CWL, BHX & MAN would be 3x based units all year round.

Wonder if Belfast will get any new routes?

bmibaby have always said that the BFS market is important to them, I guess called it a focus city. Though I think if they were to start new routes from BFS to outside of the UK atleast, they would ideally need to set up base there. I know they have operated Prague and perhaps one or two others on W-patter routes before, but this is usually in the winter when they have spare slots in the schedule to offer such routes as it obviously cuts the amount of routes / flights offered from the based aircrafts airport.

[Hull City AFC]

bmibaby - Manchester to Palma. S11

bmibaby has added Palma back to Manchester for summer 2011 operating twice a week on a Thursday and a Sunday.

[ryan2000]

Manchester Cork and Birmingham Cork might again be viable now that Aerlingus have abandoned them. Aer Aran isn't quite as big an opponent even if they do operate the routes next Summer.

[Ringwayman]

Aer Lingus hasn't abandoned Cork. If using Aer Arann operating as Aer Lingus Regional on the routes makes it viable then it's only logical to eliminate the A320 and make day returns possible.

[wanna_be_there]

Not sure of any more with apparently 2 extra aircraft being added to the fleet

Maybe MAN based as there was a press release a few months ago where Julian Carr stated they were going to try niche city routes from MAN and move away from the bucket and spade brigade.
This may have changed now, however as:

bmibaby has added Palma back to Manchester for summer 2011

Seems to be saying one thing but doing another? Palma is about as bucket and spade as they come.

[Firestorm]

WBT it is all relative. Knowing BMI Baby's 'clientele' Palma is very upmarket, almost jetsetting!

[aidoair]

Maybe MAN based as there was a press release a few months ago where Julian Carr stated they were going to try niche city routes from MAN and move away from the bucket and spade brigade.

I know from MAN they said they were going to focus on niche routes that are underserved in the region. However as they have re-launched PMI from MAN this winter it looks as though bookings have been positive and so they have made it a year round route. I didn't understand why they dropped such a route in the first place, despite alot of competition on the route during the summer months, it's probably always going to be a route that performs well for all airlines in the UK.

I guess they are going to be very careful and looking at bringing routes back that they know are popular and can make money. I wouldn't be surprised if FAO makes a comeback on the MAN schedule.

[GnRdL]

I guess they are going to be very careful and looking at bringing routes back that they know are popular and can make money. I wouldn't be surprised if FAO makes a comeback on the MAN schedule.

And ALC?

I've seen that they only gonna operate EMA from/to ALC during Jan-Mar. It's a significant reduction.

Another of "my questions" is why lately companies are focusing on the UK market in PMI?

[Legal Beagle]

Does BmiBaby have any plans to utilise the aircraft that sits on the ground at CEG all weekend in between the Airbus shuttle flights I wonder?

Any plans to try to develop anything out of CEG? Quite a market there for an airline with a bit of enterprise.

[aidoair]

Does BmiBaby have any plans to utilise the aircraft that sits on the ground at CEG all weekend in between the Airbus shuttle flights I wonder?

Any plans to try to develop anything out of CEG? Quite a market there for an airline with a bit of enterprise.

I believe this is a 'bmi regional' Embraer aircraft rather than 'bmibaby'.

As far as I am aware there are no plans to utilise the aircraft on other routes from the airport. I believe the exclusivity of the contract ensures that they will not be loosing money basing it here.

I guess it would probably cost more for it to fly out to other 'bmi regional' airports to operate a few short flight between it's down time also.

[aidoair]

bmibaby summer 2011 'phase two'

Well bmibaby today released 'phase 2' of next summers schedule, bringing the full timetable for next summers flights on sale. Unfortunately everything seems pretty much the same as this year, give or take a couple of routes where frequency is cut or frequency added etc. The only big difference compared to this summer however would be the extension of Cologne and Munich.

Other than that there is no new routes as of yet and although I have not looked at the timetables for based units fully yet, I doubt there is much room for new routes? especially the rumoured IBZ & VRN?

[mathers_wales_uk]

Looking at CWL flights for Summer 2011 below you will be able to see there are gaps but not enough flights at the moment to justify a 3 aircraft base.

So over the next few weeks we will either have a route announcement for a new route or two and added frequencies or we will see MUC dropped and flights re-shuffled.

I suppose we will just have to wait and see.

Monday

Aircraft 1 CWL-PMI 06:00 - 11:30 CWL-FAO 12:00 - 18:00 CWL-ALC 18:30 - 00:15
Aircraft 2 CWL-AGP 07:00 - 13:15 CWL-EDI 13:45 - 16:45 CWL-MJV 17:10 - 23:00
Aircraft 3 CWL-MUC 15:25 - 20:05

Tuesday

Aircraft 1 CWL-AGP 06:05 - 12:20 CWL-ALC 12:50 - 18:35 CWL-PMI 19:05 - 00:35
Aircraft 2 CWL-PMI 07:00 - 12:30 CWL-JER 13:00 - 15:20 CWL-FAO 15:45 - 21:45

Wednesday

Aircraft 1 CWL-PMI 06:45 - 12:15 CWL-ALC 12:45 - 18:30
Aircraft 2 CWL-AGP 07:00 - 13:15 CWL-EDI 13:45 - 16:45 CWL-MAH 17:10 - 22:45

Thursday

Aircraft 1 CWL-PMI 06:00 - 11:30 CWL-ALC 12:00 - 17:45 CWL-AGP 18:15 - 00:30
Aircraft 2 CWL-AGP 07:00 - 13:15 CWL-JER 13:45 - 16:05 CWL-FAO 16:35 - 22:35
Aircraft 3 CWL-MJV 12:00 - 17:50

Friday

Aircraft 1 CWL-PMI 06:00 - 11:30 CWL-MAH 18:20 - 23:55
Aircraft 2 CWL-AGP 07:00 - 13:15 CWL-EDI 13:45 - 16:45 CWL-ALC 17:10 - 22:55
Aircraft 3 CWL-MUC 15:25 - 20:05

Saturday

Aircraft 1 CWL-AGP 06:10 - 12:25 CWL-ALC 12:55 - 18:40
Aircraft 2 CWL-JER 08:30 - 10:50 CWL-FAO 11:15 - 17:15 CWL-PMI 17:45 - 23:15

Sunday

Aircraft 1 CWL-AGP 06:00 - 12:15 CWL-MUC 15:25 - 20:05
Aircraft 2 CWL-PMI 06:00 - 11:30 CWL-EDI 18:40 - 21:40
Aircraft 3 CWL-MJV 06:35 - 12:25 CWL-MAH 12:55 - 18:35 CWL-ALC 19:05 - 00:50

[JonnyBfs]

Belfast's timetable is the same as this year. Flights are reasonably priced for next summer to MAN, and BHX.
Have never noticed before, as I have only ever travelled WW with hand luggage, has the compulsory Airport checkin @£7.00 if you take hold luggage, always been there?

[CheekyVisual]

CWL to EDI and JER could be W Patterned from EMA or another base with some slight rejigging gives 2 a/c as now.

Although there are a few routes that might tempt them to put the 3rd a/c back if LH allow them to source extras BCN was always good, could return the EDI to 2 a day always did ok, IBZ was only dropped because of pax problems but would make money.

The problem Baby have with CWL is that you need profitable 1-1.30 hr sectors (domestics / near europe) to make the aircraft and crews pay their way that's why the 3rd aircraft was lost 4 sectors a day (sometimes only 2) can't cover its cost let alone make money. You need at least 8 profitable sectors most days for that third aircraft. Because crews can't do double meds (can in Ryanair !) it means you need an extra crew per aircraft per day if you are not finding a profitable extra two sectors per crew shift. Baby tried AMS, BFS, GLA, GVA and couldn't make them pay their way on the 73. That makes the operation more charter than LCC and that is the fundamental problem baby have across the network at the momnent.

No one really knows what will happen with LH and it is not November (big announcement month) yet. Hold your breath and keep everything crossed because Fly Be won't replace what you lose at CWL if baby go. Just be happy they are there at all for the moment. Better times will come and having Baby at CWL isn't keeping anyone else out. So cut them some slack and support what they are doing !

[INKJET]

Cheeky visual

The mood in bmibaby is that the worst is behind them and no one is expecting anything untoward this November. The last few years have taken its toll on the staff in all departments and a lot of (good) pilots have fled the nest for sunnier climes which means baby will need to recruit for next Summer

In the mean time the deferred pay rise will go ahead next spring which will help erase the memories of the last few years of peering into the abyss around November time!!

With only 14 aircraft the scope for trying new routes is limited but rumours of IBZ & VRN persist, Summer phase 2 is now in the booking system and has GVA & PRG year round (from EMA) it will be interesting to see if CWL-MUC makes it?

Everyone is expecting growth to restart in 2012, it will be interesting to see how many additional aircraft are to be added and of course the additional airbus orders for LH will be freeing up their older 737 fleet by then and they have 50 of them!! so who knows? just need the French to stop striking, fat chance

[Kavs8]

Is bmibaby planning to replace its B733's & B735's at all. They're getting quite old hence the recent jump in tech faults anyone no if there is any plans for investment by LH? - Also what happened to bmibaby's Manchester plans of getting of niche routes and expanding to popular destinations? if so could citybreaks like ORK, CDG or AMS be returned?

[clareview]

bmi baby fleet

5 page article on baby in the November edition of Airliner World. It reports that there are no immediate plans to replace the classics though the 500's might go to be replaced by more 300's. It adds that a full fleet renewal is a few years down the road.

[fanrailuk]

Although the recent release of more seats to destinations from all bases might be seen as 'phase 2', I am led to believe that it's just 'adding' to whats already there according to @bmibaby_com on another social network (i.e. domestics).

PP

[aidoair]

Is bmibaby planning to replace its B733's & B735's at all. They're getting quite old hence the recent jump in tech faults anyone no if there is any plans for investment by LH?

bmibaby now managing director Julian Carr has recently answered selected questions given to him by the public about the company: bmibaby chief Julian Carr answers your questions - Runway Girl I feel he is committed to the company and is definately not scared of getting involved with the running of the front line or involved with the public like some airline execs...

He also answered on the bmibaby f. book page or t. witter page a while back that there are no immediate plans to replace them as they currently work well for the airlines model. However in the future as part of wider bmi/lufthansa group plans would look into evaluating a new aircraft type.

Also what happened to bmibaby's Manchester plans of getting of niche routes and expanding to popular destinations? if so could citybreaks like ORK, CDG or AMS be returned?

I also wonder about this. I know they had to scale down etc and most as to why are answered in the above link or in various posts around the web. However I feel they need to get their foot in the door pretty quick at MAN as they really do have potential there. They just need to commit to it. I cant see the likes of CDG or AMS to return as they are now well served by Flybe and easyJet, though ORK could be a potential return.