bmi to India and Which Aircraft?

[Desk Driver]

With the onset of the Indian route for bmi (remember it's not a 7 day operation) Are they going to Operate a MAN based 330 and if so what routes will be dropped? or are they bringing in new equipment and what will that do when it's not India bound!

I can't see how they'll make it pay? Anyone know of other new routes that they can tie in with India or is LH - DUB suddenly going to be on an A330?

[Flightrider]

It will be one of the existing three bmi A330s used on LHR-Delhi, which will be replaced by a wet-leased narrowbody (for this summer, at least) on Manchester-Washington.

[GOLF-INDIA BRAVO]

How to kill a route in one easy move use a narrow body after using A330, bad move!!

G-I-B

[Oshkosh George]

I understood they were acquiring an ex Emirates A330-200. Is this now not so?

[Lite]

As far as I am aware, in 2000 bmi placed a firm order for four A330-200 aircraft, with options on a further eight. Perhaps the airline will take the opportunity to convert the options on the eight A330s to firm orders, and these new aircraft will be in service some time over the next two years. In the short-term I've heard that its the Caribbean routes that will be leased out to an ACMI operator, so the typically business routes (including IAD) can remain with mainline.

[bmibaby.com]

bmi did indeed place an order for four A330 aircraft in 2000, however options do not necessarily indicate that these will be placed into firm orders. If anything, the buzz seems to be that the airline would want larger aircraft such as the A340 for the Indian routes, as well as possible other Asian routes, as these aircraft have more range & seating capacity.

I haven't heard anything about Emirates aircraft being added to the fleet, although I have heard that if additional new or second-hand aircraft are not delivered, re-configured & re-sprayed by the time the routes launch, the airline will pull aircraft from Manchester & lease aircraft in. My guess is that it might be from EAAC if the worst does come to the worst, as they have filled in for bmi shorthaul & bmibaby on many occasions, and the two companies have a good working relationship.

I'm not aware if anymore expansion for trans-atlantic is planned from Manchester. I keep hearing that we're adding two more north-eastern cities, or expanding Canada, but I don't know why if we're short on aircraft, and if AC are expanding their trans-atlantic operations.

[Desk Driver]

Somone said BD ordered 4 X 330's.

I think they've only taken delivery on 3 ?

Even if they do sub a oute to an ACMI Specialist.

What will the 330 do on the doen days in LHR. Would it really sit around & do nothing?

I hate to answer my own question but it\'s Riyhad I\'ve had it confirmed

[Oshkosh George]

Just read elsewhere that the fourth bmi aircraft went to Emirates,but will be delivered to bmi in October. Presumably this aircraft always belonged to bmi,and was leased to Emirates?

Since noted that ALL bmi A330s are leased from ILFC,so they maybe had a clause to take up the fourth later.

[CarltonBrowne the FO]

AFAIK the decision about the next 8 big buses is still leaning toward more A330s... the extra capacity in getting A340s being judged not worth the loss of flexibility in swopping aircraft between routes.
Again AFAIK, the Mumbai flights will be flown with a MAN based aircraft- the first Monday morning MAN-LHR will be an A330 instead of an A320/321. As I understand it, the MAN-LHR crews will stay on board for the Mumbai leg; that has got to be a tough duty!Note: no insult is intended to the passengers or airports involved. The "rough duty" refers only to the length of day, and the mix of very busy shorthaul sector, with longhaul to complete afterward.
None of the above is gospel; it's all what I've gleaned from despatchers. They may not have the big picture, but I'm pretty sure they know more than me! :O

[Oshkosh George]

Just read that Emirates A6-EAS will move to bmi in May 05. This was the aircraft intended to be bmi's G-WWBC when new.

[caa19]

To settle the argument a bmi press release said...

"The additional long haul aircraft, a *damp leased Boeing 757 from Icelandair, will be based at Manchester and will operate the successful route to Washington, DC. This will enable one of bmi's Manchester Airbus A330 aircraft to be based at London Heathrow to commence the new routes to Mumbai and Riyadh"

... bring on the argument whether a 757 is a long haul a/c!

[MarkD]

Continental certainly think 757 works for longhaul, and may do so even more now one of their 752s has just got winglets.

[GOLF-INDIA BRAVO]

Oshkosh George

May I ask where you read that A6-EAS is to go to BMI in May, just wondering as it was in Manchester today and if it is to go to BMI it must be leaving the fleet soon for
a refit unless BMI are to use it in Emirates
fittings etc

G-I-B

[Oshkosh George]

I realise this may be regarded as a "spotter" site,and therefore scoffed at but,


Mentioned here---


http://www.skyliner-aviation.de/regdb.main?LC=nav4&page=2

Nice to know somebody reads my drivel!

Just thought that it may already be in bmi's fit,as it was intended for them originally.

[GOLF-INDIA BRAVO]

Thanks Oshkosh

I believe that the aircraft is in a two class fit with Emirates

G-I-B

[AUTOGLIDE]

G-I-B,

Dead right,

If BMI stick some pokey little narrow 757 on a LH sector the passengers will walk, personally my 12 trips a year will go back to BA via LHR.

[WHBM]

Not only is the 757 pokey but is in Icelandair fitout, basically charter-config with a small business cabin up forward. Not really the thing you do to a "successful" route, is it ?

Wonder how the BMI 3-class service will be fitted into it. And yes, the regular pax will walk.

[twisted-diamonddolly]

Its not going to be the standard Icelenadair config, they are putting 10 of our business class seats in the front, no premium ecy just standard ecy. It will be the same IFE as currently fitted on the 757 with hand held dvd players given to business pax...

Definately not a suitable replacement for A330, but have to say think the route is going at the end of summer 2005 unless loads pick up considerably. Will this happen with a substituted 757? unlikely....

I was at a high level meeting last week at the hall and no mention was made of any new aircraft...including this Emirates airframe. Mind you the left hand doesn't normally know what the right hand is doing at bmi....

:hmm: