Flat beds on G-WWBM ?
 

Any idea if the flat beds will be re-fitted to G-WWBM before it starts FNA, ALA and FRU?
It makes sense to have them re-fitted as this will allow bmi to provide a standard product on the both a330s, also because the entire mid-haul fleet will be re-fitted with flat beds from next year.
Then again theres not much competition to ALA, FRU and FNA so it wouldn't surprise me if they just left the old business recliners on G-WWBM if means saving them some money by not having to carry out the re-fit.

'BM sure is due back into MAN on 31Mar... To have the decals removed & remain all white apparently...

I believe 'BM will be having the lie-flat beds refitted however not until after it returns from it's C Check... It will be covering the RUH flights whilst 'BD goes on it's C Check in it's current config of 24C 220Y with the old Business/Premium seats... What it's new config will be remains to be seen...

I thought that the plan was for both A330s to be repainted into the full bmi livery?

The plan is to have them repainted after their c checks. Would be great to see these big birds back in their full glory :D

As I understand it BM will have the red Turkish tail replaced with a Star Alliance tail. As it was only repainted a year or so ago for the hand back it won't be getting the full blue & white.

BD on the other hand is well over due for a lick of paint. It will be getting the blue & white treatment. Hopefully that will cure the nasty case of mould it has developed on the upper fuselage (or atleast make it less obvious).

Meanwhile the shorthaul interior refit continue. bmi - Travel Titbits - Get Holiday Inspiration and Holiday Ideas from the weekly Top 15 Travel Deals email

TTO, the interim livery of BM is only whilst covering for BD. It does in fact get the full livery when it goes off for it's heavy maintenance and reconfig after the return of BD. Think the logic is that the publicity benefit outweighs the cost.
Meanwhile MIDS goes into Star Alliance livery to compensate for BD.

Very pleased to hear G-MIDS is being repainted. It is looking rather shabby, although G-MIDT is actually worse.

It would make a great deal of sense to have the aircraft wet leased to Lufthansa in Star colours. Less confusion? But may be that's contrary to star rules.

MIDT gets a coat of paint this summer too

G-MIDS/T defo need a respray, they are indeed looking very shabby & patch & the old 'british midland' titles between the bmi is still visible. An A320 will replace G-DBCD at BHX for LH so could well end up being G-MIDS in Star livery.

On another note, A330 G-WWBM will have a new config of C36 Y196 after it's C Check & as mentioned will receive the full bmi livery.

V sad day for GLA but one door closes another opens, DUB gets an extra rotation. I hope the number crunchers take a look at DUB and give us back the early Dep.

Just curious but how early could you leave LHR to do an early DEP from DUB?

06:00 is the earliest airborne time from LHR without using a precious night slot.

bmi Glasgow
 

The 26th March saw the end of the bmi GLA - LHR route.


Following the link below you can find video and photos of former and current staff and enjoy a couple of very special video clips - including the customary Water Canon Salute to the very last flight to leave GLA to LHR on the 26th March. Please 'like' this page and share with your friends. Thanks

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Always sad when a base closes. The pics remind me of the youtube video showing the last days of the BA GLA base.

Did one of the last flights-good luck to one and all

I agree,the Dublin flight leaves LHR too early and leaves DUB too late for the first flight of the morning.If i were a business passenger would i want to get up at 3am to get the first flight with BMI or go at a sensible hour?
This is probably done to save a nightstop.
The first flight hence leaves Dublin too late for a days work in London

The BMI focus on the Muddle East (sic)
 

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Beirut seems to be up the creek again, joining Libya. With UK domestic dead on it's feet, I wonder if there's a Plan C?

Well, if they have spare capacity, how about LHR-VIE-MAN-VIE-LHR in association with Austrian / Lufthansa.
As per their new Basle route.
It's a hole in the MAN schedule that would be well suited for BMI / Star Alliance convenience.

Skipness, how did you conclude UK Domestic is dead on it's feet?

Just list the number of domestic routes that have gone in the last five years due to the Green pressure to use the trains and rising tax.

BLK-STN on FR
MAN-LCY
LPL-LCY both VLM
LPL-LTN on EZY
NCL-STN on EZY
LBA-LHR on BD
LBA-LGW on BE
MME-LHR on BD
GLA-LHR on BD
PIK-STN has fallen to a single rotation from ten daily with FR

Even the GLA and EDI Shuttles have fallen to a single night stopper.

UK domestic passengers 1996-2010
 

Hi,

Please excuse this slightly off-topic reply:

The UK domestic market is in severe decline at the moment. The CAA stats (below) show that the number of UK domestic passengers has fallen by 24% since its peak in 2005. Of course, the market isn't completely dead yet, but with high fuel prices and falling yields, I fear that we haven't hit the bottom yet.

http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/9089/87402221.jpg