Thanks for that, Grand Fromage, much appreciated!

Long Haul out of Heathrow is where BA focuses its attention. I would expect an aggressive stance at the end of the bmi summer flying programme in October.

Just my opinion though.

Wonder when we will hear if Granite take ownership?

True LHR long haul is where BA really makes money and it does that through maintaining yields. I think anyone expecting a sudden expansion of LHR long haul from the next Winter season is going to be disappointed. BA acquired a decent number of slot pairs (8+) for the Summer 2012 season and the slots were used quite conservatively (extra short-haul and extra MIA & JFK, and modest extra HKG and JNB frequencies which seem to have been reversed for the Winter season).

BA had the scope to increase LHR long haul for Summer 2012 by substantially more than it chose to do. As I say the long haul expansion will be steady and carefully managed when the right aircraft (ie the 787) are available.

A sudden aggressive increase in LHR long haul capacity ahead of revenue is a fast track to red ink all over the profit and loss account.

G AWKZ
 

Good question!

I have no idea what is going on with bmir re Granite but at a hunch i would say nothing and they will end up with IAG, i suspect that this will form part of the remedies required to satisfy the EU in what way will be interesting, but if bmir peeps end up in BA = result!!

If IAG are forced into taking regional, I don't think that will be good news for the staff.....

I'd roll the dice with IAG over Granite any day of the week. Most people north of the border (which of course includes management) I suspect want Granite. Most south of the border and everyone I work with would rather take their chances in IAG.

what puzzles me is that it's close on 6 months since the deal with Granite was announced since then there has been a number of done deal statements subject to satisfying certain conditions, yet sofar nothing appears sealed!

This could mean all sorts of things, but friends in bmir tell me that no serious post bmi work is underway in terms of running its own future, but I guess that can't start until that future is determined.

Likewise I can't see, at least in the medium term a bmir within IAG still flying for SN or retaining slots into FRA?

Shunting bmir or bits into Flybe would be fraught with problems, not least on MAN EDI & ABZ the Scottish would go nuts about competion and choice.

Could DLH choose to keep it for feeding its hubs?

My best guess would be that bmir will end up in IAG and be used on what will become very thin routes loads wise during the intergration of bmi into BA, Airbus (bmi) will need repainting into BA colours crews will need retraining into BA sop's which are very different from bmi, this will mean crews and aircraft out of the flying programe for weeks at a time, this at a time when both bmi & BA need additional crews, so the little jungle jets & drivers could provide a useful resource the carrot to stay being jobs at BA or city flyer, not ideal if you live in ABZ LBA EMA but EDI GLA based crews could live with that.

It would be great to see BA return to BHD though

From the IAG statement of 22/12/11Regional doesn't fit with any BA operation and Cityflyer have enough problems to worry about without having to integrate another aircraft type and 180 aircrew on different T&Cs. I would fear for Regional's future if they were forced into the IAG deal.

BA don't have any use for it and 50 seat jets into LHR is commercial suicide, so I can't see where it would fit for BA.

I totally accept that. I don't think they will want the planes. Hopefully some of the people though. And I'd rather take my chances there than with Granite. Just my stance on it. I'm not overly optimistic about Granite. I'd rather end up in IAG and see what happens. Maybe I'm wrong but that's what my gut tells me based on various murmurings about both possibilities. Anyways. I have no control over it. What will be will be.

Van G, IAG have no time for 'regional' work in the UK. They would dump regional faster than you could think... ask any ex Bacon pilot...

I know, they don't want regional work. They need pilots though. And as unlikely as it is I'd take that gamble over Granite. That's just my stance. You don't need to tell me that BA don't want a regional airline or more embraers, I know that. And I've been through redundancies before, I know this industry can spit you out overnight.

All I'm saying is, in my humble opinion and as far as I'm concerned, I'd prefer to go into IAG. I know others will disagree, but there's certainly a few people I know who agree.

Latest missive from WPS:

I'm sincerely sorry that Keith Williams has stated today that BMI regional will not be integrated in BA if unsold at the deadline. He gave no further information as to what that means in detail but the lack of such an announcement doesn't bode well.......

IAG would enjoy the discount if bmir remains unsold, so why would they want it sold.
Anyone hoping for a job with BA is hoping for a miracle. At best there may be some offers of a chance at the BA assessment and then maybe a job.
As far as Granite go you have to ask the question, leaving aside whether the finances can be raised, is a small independent airline based out of Aberdeen viable.
The people trying to buy the company are decent enough, but unless they have some plan other than just resurrecting Biz Air flying Emb 145's I can't see it working.

The lastest news from Keith Williams, the CEO of BA, to pilots states that Regional will not be integrated into BA. It states Baby is in advanced talks.

I guess that leaves regional as a unit of IAG.

Last month flightglobal reported granite as having proof of funding?? Is it possible they may be stalling hoping for a better deal from IAG? As far as I have read from the press releases and here IAG only get a reduction if they end up taking on Baby, it does not apply to BMIR. Surely then they would be happy to let it go for a nominal sum plus taking the liabilities. Remember we still don't know the out come from the EC commission which could be favourable to BMIR's potential investors??? Just putting some thoughts out there....

My own take is that if Granite was going to happen, then it would have been done and dusted by now, i don't think Granite are playing poker here, rather the chips offered by Granite aren't bankable.

We are now 13 days from the new EU ruling target date and the number one priority for DLH will be closing the sale to IAG. Bmir will all most certainly end up in IAG ownership.

Hi, Have tried to google but seem to be unable to find clear information. I was wondering what routes BMIregional actually operate which would go over to the new owners.

In the past i have seen regional and mainline operate flight from LHR to MAN and BHD, but who infact would continue to operate this? Would regional be gaining any slots at LHR?

If anyone could give me a clear breakdown on the routes which will be sold as part of regional it would appreciated.

Thanks

145 flying
 

Unijet

Try these for starters. In brackets I have put the code-share

Aberdeen - Manchester, Norwich, Groningen, Esberg
Bristol - Brussels for Brussels Airlines
East Midlands - Brussels (SN) & Frankfurt (LH)
Edinburgh - Brussels (SN), Copenhagen (SK), Leeds, Manchester & Zurich (LX)
Glasgow - Copenhagen (SK) & Leeds
Leeds - Brussels (SN)
Manchester - Lyon
Newcastle - Brussels (SN)

Then there is the Airbus contract and direct flying for BMI which I lose track of but certainly Heathrow routes - Aberdeen, Manchester and Hanover (LH) are still showing in GDS.

For arguments sake LH, SK, SN & LX find some aircraft by magic to operate some of the code-share routes (almost impossible until winter?) then the prime routes would be the ABZ ones and Manchester Lyon. On Manchester they are under pressure from flybe on Aberdeen (soon to be 5 daily) and Edinburgh although they have Lyon to themselves

The IAG option (with TUPE) seems seventh heaven, I am sure it would still be disruptive for the employees but unless LH has made a good offer to Granite in respect of Star Alliance feed for foreseeable future (I assume the financiers of Granite are not impressed),then Duo does comes to mind.

Pete