How is fleet utilization looking for bmi ?
What's the future plan with the E35/45s ?


cs

I was wondering if the MRJ might be a possible future solution for bmi. Smallest regional jet currently under construction.

Should be cheaper to operate, so they can offer cheaper flights and fill up the extra seats, and they could also introduce a proper business class... Because I don't understand why people would pay upwards of £300 one way for an hour in what is... Essentially... The same seat with a slightly better "meal" service and more FF points

If they had a different, wider seat with more legroom people might pay the higher fares for it.

Then there's potential like longer routes, IFE etc. To separate themselves from BA etc. There will be people who will pay, especially in the German market, I'm sure

If BMI R were to head into the regional jet market in the 70-100 seat range, what would the choices be?

There is the Bombardier CRJ 700/900/1000 range, the Embraer E-Jets, the Comac ARJ-21, Sukhoi SSJ and the Antonov An-148/158, plus the MRJ in development.

All are very capable aircraft, with ranges to serve Europe from most UK airports. I personally find the an-148/158 an interesting proposition with Antonov replacing all Russian parts with western ones. Airlines that may have been reluctant to order a plane with Russian parts will suddenly have a low cost option to consider in the RJ market.

The MRJ that has just announced another 2 years delay to in service date? Only chance would be if the delays make lease rates *very cheap* otherwise you are waiting to another 10-15 years for an affordable capital cost.

The market bmir are in, people are paying to get from A to B quickly, not for the size of the seat.

It is a very interesting question. T3 and LM are in the same boat. I think in reality their operations are unlikely to ever warrant a circa 100 seat aircraft. The only option in the 50 seat market is the ATR-6 which whilst selling well, is in no way a decent tool for the job. Unfortunately, I suspect these operators will run their aircraft into the ground until their market disappears. A lot of airlines around the world are in the same situation, maybe when there is enough market for a new aircraft of this size one of the manufacturers will bring something to market. The proposed turkish regional jet is an example.

EMB-170, CRJ7/9 once the American regionals replace/upscale, not shiny new metal.

The Dornier 528/728 would have been the absolute perfect aircraft for them. I think there could be a 2/300 frame market for such an aircraft now if they were to do a TRJ 528/728/928. 55-110 pax across the 3 models, jet, widest cabin in it's class.

Hoy some of these fancy new jet engines under it, bang in some nice new tech and build it cheap in Turkey. Winner.

Agree with most of what you say, but why do you say the ATR-6 is not suitable? Granted, replacing a jet with a turboprop probably wouldn't be seen as popular, but apart from that and range of operation?

Second hand e jets would be my guess. Bombardier crj mx to expensive?
Possibly the SSJ from Sukhoi if the lease deals were cheapy cheapy

Punctuality
 

I'm feeling like BM's punctuality is in decline, possibly quite steeply.

I haven't done any formal analysis, just looked at flights I've been on that have been delayed, and tracked back what the aircraft have been doing.

Has the operation got more complex, and more prone to knock-on delays?

They certainly seem to be flying a lot more. It seemed to be a flying club of sorts a few years back, now they are a lot busier.

I've been at MUC a couple of times of the last couple of weeks, the Rostock flight has been delayed by 2 hours each time. My last MUC-BRS was also delayed by an hour for no specific reason (an extended turn at BRS by the looks of things).

As I said, I've no other idea of the extent of the problem. It could be that I've just got unlucky.

According to the CH Aviation site, the headline says BMI Regional is to lease in Superjets. Unfortunately the article is behind the paywall. Does anyone know more?

Aren't they already using cityjet to cover the odd flight here and there ex BRS ?


cs

From ch-aviation:

bmi regional (BM, Aberdeen Dyce) will shortly wet-lease an undisclosed number of SSJ 100-95s from CityJet (WX, Dublin Int'l) ch-aviation research has revealed.

According to the UK carrier's booking portal, effective February 27, the Sukhoi Civil Aircraft twinjet will be deployed on bmi regional flights from Bristol Int'l to each of Aberdeen Dyce and Paris CDG. The contract to either destination will end on March 19 and 25 respectively following which both services will revert to their usual ERJ-145 equipment.

cornishsimon

Yes, bmir have been using CityJet Sukhois on some flights ex BRS in recent weeks (months?).

I should have added that it seems to have been occasional use with no discernible pattern so far as I'm aware.

1134 - Fog, fleet running at near capacity due to additional services, new routes launching , plus the Winter C-check programme (meaning the BRS spare is covering normal flying) have all contributed so no one specific issue.

Two more 145's pitching up for the Summer so it's all positive.

Surely that's news ? 2 extra E45s ?
Short term or owned ? No mention on jethros


cs

Leased....

But a short or longer term lease ?
cs