BMI REGIONAL-2

[Skipness One Echo]

“Future plans including the likely strengthening of the head office function at East Midlands Airport with the creation of up to forty new jobs in sales, customer service and finance as well as maintaining the operating centre in Scotland, located in Aberdeen.”

So, HQ functions at both EMA and ABZ? I agree about the branding, we have a Catch 22 situation. BMI is now known to be an ex airline as far as the market is concerned and the ongoing closure of BMI Baby will further re-inforce that in the public mind. That story will drag out into September. Also worth recalling that when BMI Baby dropped Teesside, the market thought mainline had also departed and the existing LHR route suffered as a result.

[Fairdealfrank]

Maybe reverting to "British Midland" would be better as many may well belive that "BMI" is defunct, and forget any reference to "regional" and "international". Would make sense to keep the BD code after 27 october 2012 as the former mainline will have the BA code by then.

[Granite City Express]

So they want to take on a damaged brand and have a two HQ concept?

Sounds like a complete rebuilding of bmi, is this a good idea?

[Fairdealfrank]

Quote: "Sounds like a complete rebuilding of bmi, is this a good idea? "

Rebuilding the old "British Midland", with some tweaks to account for changed circumstances, maybe. Rebuilding the recently-defunct "BMI", no.

[SWBKCB]

So five aircraft returned from mainline at the end of the summer as well as the two released from BRU-NCL and BRU-BRS, what are they going to do with them all?

[Van G]

Could have misread, but that memo makes it sound like the bmi brand and website etc will only be used until October 27th? I thought the intention was to retain it.

I think it certainly is a catch 22 as mentioned above. Starting out with an unknown brand in the current climate, not a good idea. Keeping the bmi brand - well it will be recognised but maybe as an airline to NOT book your travel with. I don't know which is best. Maybe a case of taking the lesser of two evils.

And sounds like the embraers are out of heathrow after the summer. Thats now 7 embraers and counting that need work for the winter. I really hope these guys let us in on the master plan a little bit to share a little of the confidence and enthusiasm they seem to have. The information vacuum is starting to take its toll.

[nef]

Are We sure that the NCL/BRS-BRU routes are going back to SN metal? I have memories of previous instances of the timetables/booking engines showing SN metal doing these routes a few months before the start of the new timetable season, but closer to the time it reverted to BD 145s.

At those times people were posting here and elsewhere that SN were going back onto NCL/BRS-BRU and it proved to be misinformed. It may well be true this time, but we should bear in mind past experiences.

If the routes are going back to SN, it does raise huge questions about what they plan to do with the 7 aircraft releasrd from these routes and LHR.

[Fairdealfrank]

Quote: "If the routes are going back to SN, it does raise huge questions about what they plan to do with the 7 aircraft releasrd from these routes and LHR."

Domestic routes on behalf of VS (if they get the gig)? Or would VS use larger aircraft?

[Skipness One Echo]

several new routes have been identified by the new owners for returning aircraft, a permanent c-check spare aircraft and who knows about routes from Scotland to London yet?

If they want to survive the winter, I suspect they need to lose about a third of that capacity. New routes need start up costs and lose money for an unknown period, coupled with going into the winter season, added to no longer being a STAR Alliance affiliate, running a company with a brand that's just been buried in the mind of the market. A ruthless focus on costs and revenue will be essential in that first period. Unless Virgin are going to guarantee them a subsidy on Scotland -London, I can't see it, particularly as the numbers never add up using the ERJ-145.

[Buster the Bear]

Brussels to Lift Capacity to Bristol and Newcastle :: Routesonline

[The Cleaner]

So, now that the long weekend is over I wonder if we'll hear any time soon at least an indication of Sector's plans for BmiR???? Am hoping they've got something up their sleeves!

[dc9-32]

I can see in the not so distant future, a possible commercial link with BMiR and Virgin.

[Rougueg]

The biggest question still is on what new work has been lined up to use the aircraft.

I refuse to believe that the new owners took on BMIr without having a very detailed and serious plan to drive the business forwards. Furthermore the CAA would not have signed off the sale if their business plan was not well prepared.

Therefore at some point the plan will be revealed. But I would be amazed if Virgin factored in to it!

[Van G]

If crews do come out of heathrow October 27th that leaves little over 4 months to setup these untapped routes, advertise, sell tickets, relocate heathrow crews if their domicile base doesn't match up with operational requirements. Etc

We're being told heathrow crews will remain beyond October. I just wonder what the plan is if that isn't the case. It's not really in SAH's control so hope there's a contingency plan in place that doesn't involve P45s.

Also, when we lost the Brussels contract message from abz was not particularly concerned about it. Struck me as a little naive. Then the next line was that we may get it back and now can reapply. I don't believe that if 7 embraers suddenly have no work over the winter that things will be as rosey as the gaffers would have us believe. Just keeping it real.

[Van G]

As for keeping the BMI name the press aren't really helping...

BBC News - BMIBaby to end some routes from East Midlands Airport

[The Cleaner]

Still no news on future plans then I take it!

[Rougueg]

News black hole.

[nef]

I see on the BE thread that SN are taking on 2 more BE Dash-8s "to replace" the BD 145s. So it looks like 7 aircraft to find gainful employment for from the start of the winter season. What on earth have the new owners got planned.

[Yeadon Dam]

Has anything been said about the LBA-BRU route yet?

[MidlandDeltic]

When the Newcastle - Brussels goes over to SN Brussels in October as per post #241 above, will BMIR have any other work at that airport? Is there a base at Newcastle, or is it provided from elsewhere?

Cheers

MD