new bmi regional routes

[no, no, no]

Seen that bmi regional have today announced a new route between Aberdeen and Norwich.

http://www.flybmi.com/bmi/en-gb/sect...?p=194&Rid=164

It will be x4 Mon-Fri with reduced at weekend and will be all jets with their usual product and one-way pricing.

[richardhall99]

bit of a shock.....didnt think that NOR-ABZ would their kind of route....after Gill Airways left in October 2001 FLYbe wanted to operate the route, i think 8 times a day using a CRJ (bit much I thought)...the route was publisced on the website but never actually took off.

[Mister Geezer]

It is good news, especially for those guys with bmi regional who are based in Aberdeen. I recall seeing stories on this site about bmi regional pulling their ABZ routes but it is good to see the reverse occurring! Also all bmi regional's engineering will be moved up to Aberdeen. Eastern will be kept on their toes with another Embraer in direct competition with them! Can only be good for the passenger. The interesting thing is that Eastern and bmi code share on routes from Inverness and Dundee yet they are going to be competing against each other on the NWI route!

[sugarbird]

Is this new route really a bmi route or an eastern route or a code share?

I ask because I found the following press release on the Eastern website earlier this evening. The timings fit into the bmi timings and would make sense given Eastern's wish to expand while retaining their individual identity.


For Immediate Release 17 January, 2003

Eastern announces more flights on Aberdeen-Norwich

Eastern Airways is marking its fourth year on the Aberdeen-Norwich route with the addition of two extra frequencies - departing Aberdeen at 0700 and at 1730 - from March.

The additional flights will be operated by an Aberdeen-based Embraer Regional Jet, offering even greater flexibility for
business and leisure passengers.

The expanding independent regional airline has worked in close collaboration with the oil industry to grow the route, which now supports 50,000 passengers a year.

Headquartered at Humberside International Airport, Eastern operates some 360 flights a week and carries some 300,000 passengers a year on its scheduled services. The airline has a strong presence in Scotland having recently added Dundee and Inverness, under a codeshare with bmi British Midland, to
its network. Eastern also serves Edinburgh and Wick and recently added Aberdeen-Belfast International.

end

[The Truth]

This afternoon, a contact within Eastern was adamant that it was not a codeshare. Indeed, if you look at the bmi press release it does say "competitive service".

I have just looked at the Eastern website and cannot find the press release quoted above but I had heard the extra flight story from elsewhere.

The 0700 ABZ dep does coincide with the first bmi flight but 1730 does not .... bmi schedule is 1740.

I really cant see this route supporting 10 return flights a day! Let battle commence

[Buster the Bear]

bmi flight timetable from Aberdeen to Norwich

depart: 0700 hours
arrive: 0810 hours
days: 123456

depart: 1015 hours
arrive: 1125 hours
days: 12345

depart: 1415 hours
arrive: 1525 hours
days: 12345

depart: 1740 hours
arrive: 1850 hours
days: 123457

bmi flight timetable from Norwich to Aberdeen

depart: 0835 hours
arrive: 0945 hours
days: 123456

depart: 1230 hours
arrive: 1340 hours
days: 12345

depart: 1600 hours
arrive: 1710 hours
days: 12345

depart: 1915 hours
arrive: 2025 hours
days: 123457

Eastern airways from Aberdeen to Norwich
12345 7
08:00
09:10
T3 723
1hr 10mins
NIL
Embraer RJ135 Jet

12345 7
11:10
12:20
T3 725
1hr 10mins
NIL
Embraer RJ135 Jet

12345 7
15:15
16:25
T3 727
1hr 10mins
NIL
Embraer RJ135 Jet

12345 7
19:05
20:15
T3 729
1hr 10mins
NIL
Embraer RJ135 Jet



Eastern airways from Norwich to Aberdeen
12345 7
06:30
07:40
T3 722
1hr 10mins
NIL
Embraer RJ135 Jet

12345 7
09:35
10:45
T3 724
1hr 10mins
NIL
Embraer RJ135 Jet

12345 7
13:10
14:20
T3 726
1hr 10mins
NIL
Embraer RJ135 Jet

12345 7
17:20
18:30
T3 728
1hr 10mins
NIL
Embraer RJ135 Jet

Teletext bmi launch service from Aberdeen to East Midlands, so could well be in competition with Eastern on this route as well?

[zalt]

How many Emb145 do Eastern have now and are they on their AOC or wet leased?

[Mister Geezer]

I am lead to believe that the Eastern ERJ-135 is based in NWI. They operate one 135 and it is wet leased from City Airline in Sweden. I am very interested to hear about the teletext rumour that bmi intends to start ABZ-EMA. I don't believe that for a minute since bmi regional used to operate the route with the Saab 340 and in some extreme cases you would have more crew on board than passengers! They offloaded the route to Eastern so I would be very surprised if they wanted to pick the route again.

[Hap Hazard]

From what I have heard, they wont have any pilots left to operate any new services!
Have heard that most of them are so fed up with shabby management and poor pay they are voting with their feet.
Have a friend who has had more than 5 base changes in as many years......anyone from bmi reg care to confirm this?
Oh well it is good news for all the wannabes out there if rumours are true.

[VIKING9]

Thought the Bmi route ABZ-EMA was operated by BMi Regional.....it was when I flew it last anyway. SAAB 340's - yuk

[Buster the Bear]

The East Midlands to Aberdeen was def reported on Teletext today, I am sure on the business pages via channel 4.

[Mister Geezer]

I think teletext have their wires crossed. bmi could be codesharing with Eastern on the EMA route (could be a good idea!) but I can't see them operating the route themselves. Maybe a bit of confusion over the fact that it is bmi regional engineering that is being relocated from EMA to ABZ. There is no mention on the bmi site or EMA's site of bmi moving in on the route.

[no, no, no]

I have heard from a very good source that in light of Easterns increased frequency, bmi may switch the operator from bmi regional to bmibaby in order to see off the competition with a 2x 735 schedule.

Can't see any competition remaining with baby capacity and fares on the ABZ-NWI route.........

[Mister Geezer]

The Norwich route is one that is predominately used by business passengers and they are looking for flexibility in terms of when they can travel. Being tied to two flights a day, even if a 737 is being operated, is bound to reduce the opportunities for the public. The cost and logistics of running a 737 don't really add up. This would be bmi baby’s first ABZ or NWI route and they would have to position an aircraft or start another route that links on to either Norwich or Aberdeen to ensure that a 737 is available for use. IMHO either of those options don't really fit into a low cost business plan. Maybe this might be the small slice of a big cake bit the logistics for just a single route from either ABZ or NWI for bmi baby are bound to cause more hassle in terms of cost than is necessary. Especially when a base for bmi regional is already available!