DAT to wetlease BMI A330's
 

According to rumours ex-sabena regional airliner DAT will lease BMI 330's to re-start the African operations.

Anyone knows more ?

Would this mean that transatlantic flights are stopping or is it the aircraft that is in storage at MAN along with the new one that is due shortly from Airbus would be wetleased as bmi have no routes for them at the moment?

I have a feeling that this is the aircraft that BMI got in anticipation of starting US service from LHR. They had been promised by the UK govt. that there was going to be openskies with the US by late summer of 2001. I dont think this deal involves any of the aircraft that is used from MAN-ORD orMAN-IAD. I understand those flights are doing ok, especially with cargo. If BMI suspended these flights, than they would have no presence in the US and when LHR-USA is opened for them, they would have to do that certification process etc. all over again. That is an expensive and timely process. The MAN flights will stay.

My understanding is that they will use the 330 that came back from SAS for DAT's African ops.

I am reliably informed that at this minute in time, this contract has fallen through.

bmi are renowned to be rather expensive. No wonder they always lose out on contract work. <img src="frown.gif" border="0">

and....DAT is NOT involved in this deal. These negotiations are between BMI and the brandnew wannabee union run airline of ex-SN drivers...the only way some service may take off is via wet-lease, otherwise too many strikes will keep aeroplanes and pax on the ground...

EH? FL310 I am now completely confused, and would welcome clarification..is the deal on, off, or in negotiation.

this deal, if it ever takes off, has nothing to do with DAT (or the new SN Brussels-Airlines).. .There are however negotiations in process between BMI and the unemployed BeCA union members forming a new airline.