Bmi-bfs-bye?
 

Local press reporting that BMI are about to pull the plug on the BFS-LHR route.

The recent introduction of F100 equipment coupled with fairly high loads in both freight and pax would make this decision seem pretty daft.


Anyone else heard anything solid?

If bmi are going to pull the plug why are they offering 4 flights a day on their summer timetable. Whats the chances easyjet getting the slots.

puma driver.....probably none..EZY @LHR? don't think that would fit with their philosophy...25 min turnrounds etc(love to see it though!!)What BFS needs is a PROPER LHR service(hell the ENTIRE province needs that) A service which lets people finish in London and get home LATE! Like we used to have!But when was a service ever run for the good of the people? I would have thought that our local MP'S might have been a little more vociferous.

This story was published in the Belfast Newsletter


British Midland is to axe its service from Belfast International Airport (BIA) to London Heathrow next spring, but the airline plans to introduce flights to two European destinations from Belfast City Airport, the News Letter has learned.

According to an airline industry source, BMI is planning to begin non-stop flights to Paris and Brussels from the City airport from May.

BMI refused to confirm the launch of the new routes, but it is understood the airline has applied for landing slots at airports in both European capitals.

It is expected that the London Heathrow service from BIA, which has already been reduced from five flights a day to three, will cease at around the same time as the international flights begin from the City Airport.

This will be the first time a non-stop service between Belfast and Paris has been available and the first international scheduled flights to operate from the City Airport.

The only European destination offered by Belfast International is to Amsterdam, with easyJet.

In the past British Midland has offered services to Paris from BIA via Heathrow or East Midlands Airport, while flybe currently flies from Belfast City to the French capital via Heathrow and Gatwick.

Sabena offered a three times a day service from BIA to Brussels until it was axed a year ago.

BMI, which currently operates eight daily flights from the City Airport to London Heathrow, has in recent months been steadily reducing its presence at Belfast International Airport.

The airline closed its business lounge at BIA at the end of October and BMI business passengers now use the airport’s Fitzwilliam lounge.

This month the airline carried 3,500 passengers per week on the BIA to London Heathrow route, half the number it did last month.

Also in October, it changed from using the 156 seater Airbus 320 aircraft on the route to the 106 seater Fokker planes.

BMI’s move to the Belfast City Airport and the launch of new services is another

blow to Belfast International Airport, which has lost a series of major flag carriers, some of whom were flying non-stop to international destinations.

In the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, BA axed its Belfast to London Heathrow shuttle service, while BMI moved the majority of its services to the City Airport.

Aer Lingus cancelled its services to New York and Boston and Sabena ended flights to Brussels.

However, easyJet has indicated that it is eager to launch international services to European destinations from BIA, with Paris and Malaga top of its list.

Flybe only offer Paris via BHX. They don't fly to CDG from LHR or LGW. If BMI do a runner I'm sure they'd love to have go at LHR though. Reality would suggest that most of the BFS passengers will end up on EZY...probably to LGW.

FlyBe. Also fly NCL -CDG.

and as Carlos said previously, certainly not through LGW or LHR.

If flybe dont pull their fingers out of their collective @rse's they will end up with a right royal @rse kicking.

There is no reason why they can't operate a BHD-CDG themselves, or even a BFS -LHR either. :(

not true ...both Air France AND British Midland tried this route in the past(albeit from BFS)and the times were totally crap for the business traveller ergo they failed miserably.Now if EZY or Baby were to give it a go(or perhaps even the Ryans who are lurking in the wings )THEN we might see a dramatic improvement in pax figures.As a demonstration look at the figures on the EZY Amsterdam service.They have a very healthy load factor and if you compare it to the figures KLM/KLMuk were acheiving a few years ago it would appear that one of the principal reasons for it's success is price!!.

How close to its' max in terms of passengers is BHD getting?

Last I looked the city didn't have the facilities for International Flights, Customs, Immigration, International Lounges etc.

As far as reaching its max, recent reports suggest that it may already be sailing close to the wind on that one.

As Flybe has been doin BHD-Chambery for a few years now there must be some facilities for international flights.;)