Origin of bmir

[BKS Air Transport]

I always thought that bmir was formed when Midland were developing their international network out of Heathrow and wanted a smaller operation to run their regional (i.e. non-LHR) activites, such as their long-standing routes out of East Midlands, Leeds and Jersey. I've now read that it was actually formed from a separate airline, Business Air, of whom I've never heard. I'm confused, could anyone please explain what happened?

And could I wish the best of luck to all those good people in the current situation.

[Granite City Express]

Ian Woodley and Graham Ross set up the company in 1987 as Business Air and started operations in August 1987 from Aberdeen Airport. The airline ran independently with EMB-110s and Saab2000s until 2001. BMI allegedly bought them in 2001 for £1.

[Richard Taylor]

Almost - Saab 340s, not 2000s.

[ZOOKER]

RTF callsign was 'Granite'.

[Skipness One Echo]

Business Air ran SF340s on a host of domestics into ABZ, EDI, GLA, MAN as well as a load of night time flying for Royal Mail. In later years they carried Lufthansa titles on the rear fuselage in recognition of co-operation in feeding LH over Manchester from Scotland.

They were operating as British Midland by ~ 1996 and the SF340s were painted into the 1990s blue colours, then the later dark scheme before being replaced by the EMB-145s which were branded as "British Midland". The "Regional" titles came with the rebranding to BMI in ~ 2001.

BMI allegedly bought them in 2001 for £1.
What was the situation prior to 2001? Was it a franchise?