Let me assure you Baby will not be getting A319s from Mainline anytime soon if at all, perhaps new aircraft at some point. The A319 is fitting vey well with the shorthaul fleet as predicted, why on earth do you think they ordered them in the first place....?

145's
 

New!

They could just have a day trip to BHX, slip a few in their pockets when nobody is looking (see other threads on BHX Security), which BE have sitting around ;) Bingo problem solved :}

Pete

If it all comes off the a/c will be SOU based and it will be 4xdaily.

What about EDI-SOU, which had been talked about a while ago along wth MAN-SOU?

I'd be amazed if this actually happens..remember AMS?

Nothing amazes me anymore i think this time it might just happen,might be worth dusting off the cv again

They'd be much better off basing an airframe down here in SOU and flying to the Star Alliance hubs of MUC, FRA and CPH :D

bmi will launch a daily London/Heathrow - Cairo flight from 28th October 2007. The flight will be operated using A320s with a similar business class as that used to Moscow.

BD771 LHR/CAI 09:05/15:50
BD772 CAI/LHR 16:40/19:50

Quite a tight turnaround in Cairo.

Amsterdam
 

The backing out of the SOU/AMS probably had something to do with Scotairways applying for slots for an EDI/LBA which is a very lucrative route for BMI there are never any cheap fares on it.

If I remember correctly slots had been applied for EDI & MAN/SOU for the summer timetable and given some of the OTP & crewing issues BE have at the moment, BMI may think the time is right.

I am not sure about MAN/SOU but average fares on EDI/SOU have risen sharply since BE had the route to itself.

I think the timings for the Cairo flight are not the best. They are timed well for inbound US connections, but there are NO possibilities for UK-US connections. This is gonna be a killer of a shift, and don't even get me started on turning a 2 class aircraft round in 50 mins!

Regards

Mike

AEUlad,

Though I agree that the flights won't allow for much CAI-US traffic, it certainly offers a good alternative schedule to that offered by the incumbent carriers on the route, BA and MS, who depart LHR in the late afternoon and depart CAI in the early morning.

As for the turnaround time, I agree 50 minutes is certainly tight. Though it won't be an issue getting the aircraft ready in 50 minutes, it doesn't take into account any possible delays of the inbound flight (quite common on flights ex-LHR). Furthermore until CAI's T3 opens next year, the airport is certainly burdened with more flights/pax than it was designed for. Thankfully the airline will be operating from the modern and 'new' Terminal 1, as opposed to the 'out-dated' T2 which is used by most international carriers.

As for it being a 'killer shift', it all depends on how BD will manage these services. If their crew stay overnight in Cairo as opposed to operating both in/outbound services as most UK charter airlines do when flying UK-Egypt-UK services then it will be quite an easy shift...a short 5 hour flight (Egyptian pax aren't too demanding) followed by a 22 hour rest.

If this CAI turns out to be a nightstop, I will eat my (BA for now)wings!

Regards

Mike

:ugh:

Cario is not a nightstop but a day return for the crew.

I'm waiting to see if BEY/AMM all turn into day returns as well. Thats along day out driving into LHR then CAI and back and drive home.

BMI take over by....BA? Virgin? Lufthansa?
 

Hello,

As we all do I was reading the news and I couldn't help it but I came across a rather surprising article. Is there anyone out there that knows more about this???

Please read:

http://news.travelcounsellors.co.uk/..._18103453.html

or

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/to...cle1929255.ece

or

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/mai.../cnopen112.xml

These are just a few...


HOPE TO HEAR FROM ANYONE!!!!!!!!!!

THX

Much speculation abounds, I think the crunch will come when the 'put' option reverses at the end of 2008. Sir Dickie is definitley trying everything he can to nab bmi via Lufthansa.

Didnt BE also announce SOU-AMS at around the same time?

If CAI is not a night stop then I imagine the crew will at least get generous crew rest time before and after the flight.

Apparently bmi have signed a 'commercial agreement' with Egyptair for this new service. The latter are expected to join Star Alliance in the foresseable future.

"If CAI is not a night stop then I imagine the crew will at least get generous crew rest time before and after the flight. "

:ok:

This subject is becoming such a BIG YAWN. It comes around every month or two and collects the same drivel from the same people. Maybe SMB will be buying 49% of Virgin from Singapore Airlines - now that would be a turn up for the books. Maybe eventually bmi might take over Virgin. It is possible afterall - as is me collecting the big lotto prize. :(

SOU
 

Yes, and numbers haved soared on that route. BE even added an additional rotation before it started due to demand.

BMI announced 17/05/06
Flybe announced 19/06/06

Scotairways also never started ops EDI/LBA