bmiBaby threads (merged)
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If the worst does happen tomorrow I expect we'll see an announcement pretty soon afterwards from Jet2 regarding imminent significant expansion, or from Easy announcing they are to ride back into town.
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Latest is that the meeting with union reps had been postponed to an as yet undetermined date.
Can't speak for anyone else, but the lack of information is pretty disheartening.
Can't speak for anyone else, but the lack of information is pretty disheartening.
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I'm afraid everyone is living in an information vacuum at the moment, whether you are Mainline, Regional or Baby.
You're spot on about how demoralising and concerning it is.
You're spot on about how demoralising and concerning it is.
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What ever is going to happen IAG need to announce what there plans are for baby very soon as damage is already being done to the baby brand as far as the public are concerned and any potentail purchaser will have difficult mountain to climb to rebuild the buisnessin the publics eye.
When out and abound in travel shops last week, I heard comments such as "we usually fly with bmibaby but since they pulled out of EMA who operates the route now". " I don't want to go with bmibaby as they may cancel my flight as BA are closing them down". "I think we will look at the holiday with jet 2/Thomas cook/thomson flights as we don't want the hassle of flights being changed or cancelled". Whilst I realise that most of baby's bookings are done on line it's clear that members are the public are being put off by the uncertainty or think the airline has already gone or will be gone very shortly. I do hope the out come for baby is a bright future under new owners and this is announced very soon for the sake of the staff. But this uncertainty is slowly driving business in to the hands of competitors.
Good luck to everyone at baby you are some of the best crew in they skies!
When out and abound in travel shops last week, I heard comments such as "we usually fly with bmibaby but since they pulled out of EMA who operates the route now". " I don't want to go with bmibaby as they may cancel my flight as BA are closing them down". "I think we will look at the holiday with jet 2/Thomas cook/thomson flights as we don't want the hassle of flights being changed or cancelled". Whilst I realise that most of baby's bookings are done on line it's clear that members are the public are being put off by the uncertainty or think the airline has already gone or will be gone very shortly. I do hope the out come for baby is a bright future under new owners and this is announced very soon for the sake of the staff. But this uncertainty is slowly driving business in to the hands of competitors.
Good luck to everyone at baby you are some of the best crew in they skies!
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FlyBe have announced the basing of 2 aircraft at EMA for the winter, flying to CDG, AMS, JER, GLA and EDI. All are Baby routes.
Found it now thanks.
Last edited by redED; 2nd May 2012 at 14:27.
Flybe makes move on Bmibaby territory
Flybe is expanding its services from East Midlands airport – the biggest hub for Bmibaby which is facing an uncertain future following the purchase of Bmi by British Airways’ parent company.
Flybe, which currently only flies to Belfast from East Midlands airport, will start services to Amsterdam, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Jersey for the winter 2012/13 season from October 28. It will base two aircraft at the airport for the first time.
East Midlands is Bmibaby’s biggest base from where it serves 31 destinations including all five of Flybe’s new routes from the airport.
IAG is trying to find a buyer for Bmibaby which it does not want to integrate into British Airways. But IAG chief executive Willie Walsh is “not confident” of securing a deal – the failure to find a buyer could lead to Bmibaby being shut down with the potential loss of 470 jobs
The no-frills carrier is continuing with its planned summer 2012 schedule, as are the services of another subsidiary Bmi Regional, which IAG also wants to offload.
Flybe said it was still finalising schedules and frequencies with the airport for next winter – flights for the five new routes went on sale today.
Andrew Strong, managing director of Flybe UK, said: “We are pleased to announce this major expansion at East Midlands Airport as a key part of our winter programme that goes on sale today.
“We already serve 35 UK airports and are Europe’s biggest regional airline, so it makes sense for us to add these additional five key European and UK services at the start of our 2012-13 Winter schedule.”
Flybe last week unveiled a new branding under the banner “Making Flying Better” and also scrapped debit card booking charges.
Ken O’Toole, chief commercial officer of East Midlands’ owner Manchester Airports Group, added: “We welcome Flybe’s commitment to East Midlands Airport and this major expansion underlines East Midlands’ position as a leading regional airport in the UK.
“The new services will provide increased connectivity for both business and leisure passengers, will open up additional access to long-haul destinations via the major hubs at Paris and Amsterdam and is a reflection of the airline's commitment to the region and the businesses that operate.”
Flybe, which currently only flies to Belfast from East Midlands airport, will start services to Amsterdam, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Jersey for the winter 2012/13 season from October 28. It will base two aircraft at the airport for the first time.
East Midlands is Bmibaby’s biggest base from where it serves 31 destinations including all five of Flybe’s new routes from the airport.
IAG is trying to find a buyer for Bmibaby which it does not want to integrate into British Airways. But IAG chief executive Willie Walsh is “not confident” of securing a deal – the failure to find a buyer could lead to Bmibaby being shut down with the potential loss of 470 jobs
The no-frills carrier is continuing with its planned summer 2012 schedule, as are the services of another subsidiary Bmi Regional, which IAG also wants to offload.
Flybe said it was still finalising schedules and frequencies with the airport for next winter – flights for the five new routes went on sale today.
Andrew Strong, managing director of Flybe UK, said: “We are pleased to announce this major expansion at East Midlands Airport as a key part of our winter programme that goes on sale today.
“We already serve 35 UK airports and are Europe’s biggest regional airline, so it makes sense for us to add these additional five key European and UK services at the start of our 2012-13 Winter schedule.”
Flybe last week unveiled a new branding under the banner “Making Flying Better” and also scrapped debit card booking charges.
Ken O’Toole, chief commercial officer of East Midlands’ owner Manchester Airports Group, added: “We welcome Flybe’s commitment to East Midlands Airport and this major expansion underlines East Midlands’ position as a leading regional airport in the UK.
“The new services will provide increased connectivity for both business and leisure passengers, will open up additional access to long-haul destinations via the major hubs at Paris and Amsterdam and is a reflection of the airline's commitment to the region and the businesses that operate.”
Flybe makes move on Bmibaby territory | ABTN
Flybe announces East Midlands winter expansion
East Midlands Airport : Nottingham, Leicester & Derby - Official website for live flight information, car parking & booking flights & holidays
This would appear to be a not-so-subtle way of making bmibaby even less appealing to any purchaser. It may be worth noting that IAG (BA’s parent company) has a 14.5% shareholding in Flybe.
Last edited by MaxRange120; 2nd May 2012 at 15:35.
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Maybe this rumour about flybe was?? I’m guessing maybe Jet2 didn’t want these routes (Amsterdam, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Jersey) from East Midlands Airport.
I wonder if some 737-300's would be just transferred including staff to Jet2 and planes not needed returned to lesser than a sale.
I wonder if some 737-300's would be just transferred including staff to Jet2 and planes not needed returned to lesser than a sale.
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I doubt IAG/BA had any influence at all over FlyBe's decision. Although BA has a 15% shareholding, they don't have anyone on the FlyBe board and BA asked Lord Jones of Birmingham to step down from an advisory role after he joined the FlyBe board because of potential conflicts of interest.
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You can't be that naive, business is far more complex than that, BA/IAG stand to gain a lot from having Flybe jump in first and taking initiative away from the other big players, while the routes they have taken are mainly regional routes and suit Flybe, you cannot get away from the fact that this all smells a bit odd. Baby fly a fair number of pax to the med and Jet2, easy or FR will see a possibility to take a stranglehold on EMA, none care about the EDI/GLA, the loads on AMS and CDG are fair but I would guess not worth it for Jet2 or Easy.
The question remains, would they want to take up the extra space in EMA and put a few a/c in come the start of summer and fly all those med pax.
Since the regional flights just supplement the med flight days for flight crew, it could still mean having to base 5 or 6 a/c at EMA to take up the slack. All those saying Jet2 are out maybe right for now, but for 2013 they maybe in, a slow meander south would be helped by adding to their 757(s) at EMA and they may not be able to pass up the opportunity despite the persons "in the know" on here saying otherwise.
We shall just have to wait and see what cards they are all holding, either way Lazygolfer is right, fleet cut, bases cut, routes cut. If baby was able to go it alone 6yrs ago it might be a different situation, LH didnt do this, SirMB did this, all others followed suit, baby was never supposed to be successful, although it couldve been, and for the hard working people at baby it is sad.
On a final note, the choice words on TV by the Flybe spokesman could not have been better planned,
just to put doubt into any loyal customers as the white knights of the south coast ride into town, the nail seems to be in the coffin for baby. More jobs on the line down to neglect.
Remind me when this upturn is coming...
The question remains, would they want to take up the extra space in EMA and put a few a/c in come the start of summer and fly all those med pax.
Since the regional flights just supplement the med flight days for flight crew, it could still mean having to base 5 or 6 a/c at EMA to take up the slack. All those saying Jet2 are out maybe right for now, but for 2013 they maybe in, a slow meander south would be helped by adding to their 757(s) at EMA and they may not be able to pass up the opportunity despite the persons "in the know" on here saying otherwise.We shall just have to wait and see what cards they are all holding, either way Lazygolfer is right, fleet cut, bases cut, routes cut. If baby was able to go it alone 6yrs ago it might be a different situation, LH didnt do this, SirMB did this, all others followed suit, baby was never supposed to be successful, although it couldve been, and for the hard working people at baby it is sad.
On a final note, the choice words on TV by the Flybe spokesman could not have been better planned,
just to put doubt into any loyal customers as the white knights of the south coast ride into town, the nail seems to be in the coffin for baby. More jobs on the line down to neglect. Remind me when this upturn is coming...
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Possible update on the "sale" or not this afternoon, business brief to staff should shed some light. I think pretty much all staff have accepted that baby will close down, we just want to know what the redundancy package will be. If it's the bare minimum then there will be a mass exodus, if it's decent I think people will be prepared to stick around to the bitter end.