BMI REGIONAL-2
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BMI REGIONAL-2
There's a few of us mainly interested in what's going down at BMIR. This is for us, let's hope the mods don't decide to merge us again!
So, any news? anyone?
So, any news? anyone?
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Nope! Total vacuum of information. In my opinion we'll head into IAG, subject to EU approval, then who knows...
The management are still putting a granite spin on things. Unsurprising really as it would keep them in abz. Whether there's any substance to that I'm doubtful.
The management are still putting a granite spin on things. Unsurprising really as it would keep them in abz. Whether there's any substance to that I'm doubtful.
Fit like min?
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from BBC Scotland Business Editor today
Granite Air
"But as I've reported before, there have been hopes of, and advanced talks around a Scottish-based buy-out of BMI Regional.
It's the division of the airline based in Aberdeen, which used to be Business Air, and which flies 15 commuter jets between smaller airports in the UK and on the continent.
Under the codename Granite, there has been a prolonged effort both to raise the £20m to £25m necessary to buy BMI Regional from Lufthansa before the 31 March deadline set for the IAG deal, and to persuade Lufthansa to part with it.
But the money's not there. And in the absence of a deal, the division, with more than 300 jobs, most of them in Aberdeen, will become part of IAG.
The giant air group knew there was interest from a Scottish consortium in buying Regional, but it has said nothing about its intentions for it if it was handed over with the mainstream part of BMI.
It's still not saying, but there has to be a concern about both that business and the routes it operates, as IAG certainly doesn't see its future as operating commuter jets between smaller cities."
The silence has been deafening. I wish the news was better & that the above is incorrect. Hopefully there can yet be a rabbit pulled out of the hat, but banks & institutions are reluctant to lend to anyone in these times.
It would be sad at a time when business appears to be on the up again at Aberdeen, we could lose our based airline.
"But as I've reported before, there have been hopes of, and advanced talks around a Scottish-based buy-out of BMI Regional.
It's the division of the airline based in Aberdeen, which used to be Business Air, and which flies 15 commuter jets between smaller airports in the UK and on the continent.
Under the codename Granite, there has been a prolonged effort both to raise the £20m to £25m necessary to buy BMI Regional from Lufthansa before the 31 March deadline set for the IAG deal, and to persuade Lufthansa to part with it.
But the money's not there. And in the absence of a deal, the division, with more than 300 jobs, most of them in Aberdeen, will become part of IAG.
The giant air group knew there was interest from a Scottish consortium in buying Regional, but it has said nothing about its intentions for it if it was handed over with the mainstream part of BMI.
It's still not saying, but there has to be a concern about both that business and the routes it operates, as IAG certainly doesn't see its future as operating commuter jets between smaller cities."
The silence has been deafening. I wish the news was better & that the above is incorrect. Hopefully there can yet be a rabbit pulled out of the hat, but banks & institutions are reluctant to lend to anyone in these times.
It would be sad at a time when business appears to be on the up again at Aberdeen, we could lose our based airline.
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I've also heard the same as above.
No money available, Regional to stay with the IAG deal and possibly dumped on Flybe to do with it what they will.
Baby = Air Contractors.
IAG / Mainline deal to be approved.
No money available, Regional to stay with the IAG deal and possibly dumped on Flybe to do with it what they will.
Baby = Air Contractors.
IAG / Mainline deal to be approved.
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Posted this elsewhere, thought it might be good post here as well in case anyone has any further intel (Unlikely I know, but maybe someone has spoken to the cleaners?).
Regional & Baby to be brought into the bigger IAG deal (assume the Baby discount applies and that Regional is a freebie), neither to be integrated into BA at all, and then sold off or shut down. I guess that the unions and management will start the 90 day consultation period very soon after the 20th of April.
Anyone know if Granite are still looking to buy?
Regional & Baby to be brought into the bigger IAG deal (assume the Baby discount applies and that Regional is a freebie), neither to be integrated into BA at all, and then sold off or shut down. I guess that the unions and management will start the 90 day consultation period very soon after the 20th of April.
Anyone know if Granite are still looking to buy?
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I think there is, perhaps, an opportunity for Regional to work with the new slots for EDI and ABZ to LHR under the VS banner, they will need to lease some larger equipment in the short-term, though.
That, or constructing a deal with IAG that is similar to Sun-Air, basically franchise model.
A third, extremely slim possibility, is that Regional would be integrated with city flyer, somehow. I don't think the ERJ 135/145s would remain for long, but cityFlyer has a number of ERJ-190 options it could exercise, if so desired.
That, or constructing a deal with IAG that is similar to Sun-Air, basically franchise model.
A third, extremely slim possibility, is that Regional would be integrated with city flyer, somehow. I don't think the ERJ 135/145s would remain for long, but cityFlyer has a number of ERJ-190 options it could exercise, if so desired.
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Re: BMIR into CFE, talking last week to the powers at the towers aka. Didsbury, BaCon was off loaded to BE for a reason and there is no desire to start regional flying again, so I very much doubt that there is a plan to incorporate BMIr into CityFlyer.
Just don't want people to get hopes up for something that was dreamt up on this forum.
Just don't want people to get hopes up for something that was dreamt up on this forum.
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or constructing a deal with IAG that is similar to Sun-Air, basically franchise model.
I don't think the ERJ 135/145s would remain for long, but cityFlyer has a number of ERJ-190 options it could exercise, if so desired.
Sorry, Brian, I don't mean to shoot you down, and I (like you) am really trying to see a good solution for the current situation - I'm just (personally) not convinced that any of the above are particularly robust alternatives. I hope that I am proven wrong.
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I agree, I don't think any of them are particularly enticing for an prospective owner. My feeling is that there may be an opportunity for either WW or Regional to work with the bearded one to utilise the LHR slots. I agree that it does not fit in with BA's stated model, but it is possible that this may have changed slightly as part of the overall IAG group.
Indeed, it is probably just as easy for VS to wet-lease some narrow bodies from somewhere, but IAG does seem to be throwing down the gauntlet in the media today.
Indeed, it is probably just as easy for VS to wet-lease some narrow bodies from somewhere, but IAG does seem to be throwing down the gauntlet in the media today.
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(Alternatively: if they got the fleet for free, could CityFlyer do something else out of LCY with the E135s?
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Please dont gang up on me guys....i just want to ask...On its own with no alliances etc how viable would bmi regional be as a stand alone airline?
IMHO, not as impossible as some would say, but very very risky.
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Ah, Duo. 
May God bless her and all who sailed in her.
Plus I would add that fuel prices are about twice what they were back in 2004 or so, while average yields have if anything fallen thanks to increased low-cost-carrier penetration, so the scope for profitable flying is even more reduced.
From memory, Duo's breakeven load factor on ~2 hour sectors was about 70% at £100 net yield. I would be utterly astonished if a 50-seater could come anywhere near that breakeven today.
May God bless her and all who sailed in her.Plus I would add that fuel prices are about twice what they were back in 2004 or so, while average yields have if anything fallen thanks to increased low-cost-carrier penetration, so the scope for profitable flying is even more reduced.
From memory, Duo's breakeven load factor on ~2 hour sectors was about 70% at £100 net yield. I would be utterly astonished if a 50-seater could come anywhere near that breakeven today.
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I have a fair number of friends at regional and would hate to see them out of work, but look at the business model.
A small regional jet that is not fuel efficient with regard to pax carried
A route network that has diminished year on year
A reliance on wet lease contracts
A small minded insular management(albeit mostly gone now) that was more interested in maintaining the Aberdeen management than real integration and cost savings that could be realised by closing the ABZ office.
The London city route is a non starter, they tried that from LBA with a wet leased turbo prop because they wouldn't operate the 135 into there. I think they gave that route about 10mins to turn a profit then pulled it.
They pulled out of Paris because mainline pulled out even though loads were good.
I could go on. As for the statement about crews not being suitable, that's rubbish, there are some really good guys there who stayed to be home every night with the family rather than go to bigger companies with airbus or Boeing fleets.
Regional management never really moved on from the high priced business ticket pax in small numbers and the rest of the industry has moved with the market in the real world.
I do hope someone with deep pockets and true vision gets hold of regional and turns it into the regional airline it deserves to be, but if Lufthansa have washed their hands of it, then I think the future is truly bleak.
A small regional jet that is not fuel efficient with regard to pax carried
A route network that has diminished year on year
A reliance on wet lease contracts
A small minded insular management(albeit mostly gone now) that was more interested in maintaining the Aberdeen management than real integration and cost savings that could be realised by closing the ABZ office.
The London city route is a non starter, they tried that from LBA with a wet leased turbo prop because they wouldn't operate the 135 into there. I think they gave that route about 10mins to turn a profit then pulled it.
They pulled out of Paris because mainline pulled out even though loads were good.
I could go on. As for the statement about crews not being suitable, that's rubbish, there are some really good guys there who stayed to be home every night with the family rather than go to bigger companies with airbus or Boeing fleets.
Regional management never really moved on from the high priced business ticket pax in small numbers and the rest of the industry has moved with the market in the real world.
I do hope someone with deep pockets and true vision gets hold of regional and turns it into the regional airline it deserves to be, but if Lufthansa have washed their hands of it, then I think the future is truly bleak.
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Hi D&F, not sure if you are referring to my earlier comment about Regional not having the right aircraft and crews. All I was saying is that the crews are not type rated for the mainline aircraft which would be needed to profitably operate into LHR - not casting any aspersions on their character!
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This from today's Travelmole
I believe that there are now some positive noises coming from the Granite organisation, with visits to the office in ABZ.Is a tie up with VS a possible way forward?
Virgin plans first UK domestic operation
Virgin Atlantic is planning to launch its first domestic flights if it wins 12 pairs of Heathrow slots to be relinquished by British Airways' parent IAG following its takeover of bmi.
The airline, which is calling on the European Commission to auction all 12 slots as one complete package, told the Daily Telegraph it would launch domestic flights next summer if it was successful in winning the slots.
Virgin currently holds just 3% of Heathrow's slots, while IAG will hold 51% after the bmi deal completed on April 20.
The auction process is expected to begin in several weeks and Aer Lingus is likely to be among those bidding against Virgin.
Virgin Atlantic is planning to launch its first domestic flights if it wins 12 pairs of Heathrow slots to be relinquished by British Airways' parent IAG following its takeover of bmi.
The airline, which is calling on the European Commission to auction all 12 slots as one complete package, told the Daily Telegraph it would launch domestic flights next summer if it was successful in winning the slots.
Virgin currently holds just 3% of Heathrow's slots, while IAG will hold 51% after the bmi deal completed on April 20.
The auction process is expected to begin in several weeks and Aer Lingus is likely to be among those bidding against Virgin.
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Are we talking a Virgin Australia/America style operation - Virgin group holds a % of the airline and leases the Virgin brand to them... As I said the other day, I could see baby involved with this, but Virginbaby isnt going to work - so maybe something plain like Virgin Regional or Virgin Britain?
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Hmmm that is making me wonder toledoashley !
Virgin Britain sounds alright, and was something which i saw you mention the other day ! It could work for good old RB here, his Virgin America and Australia operations are brilliant successes, wonder if Britain would be the same ?
Besides the fact that it is absolutely tiny compared to these land giants aforementioned !
Virgin Britain sounds alright, and was something which i saw you mention the other day ! It could work for good old RB here, his Virgin America and Australia operations are brilliant successes, wonder if Britain would be the same ?
Besides the fact that it is absolutely tiny compared to these land giants aforementioned !