bmi extend chauffeur drive to include Dublin, Belfast

bmi's Chauffeur Drive service for business passengers flying on fully flexible fares has been extended to include a number of new airports, including Dublin and Belfast.

Silver E-Class Mercedes cars are used to provide the service in the UK, with equivalent cars used at the destination. Specially branded parking spaces are in place at Heathrow's Terminal 1 where passengers are greeted on arrival by a bmi concierge who escorts the passenger and their luggage to the new bmi Premium check in zone. Up to four transfers can be taken per return flight with the service available at both ends of the route.

BMI cut back on Dublin - Heathrow as losses worsen

In the face of increasing pressure from Lufthansa who are about to complete the deal for 80% ownership, BMI are cutting back on some routes and reducing capacity.

Among the routes which will see a reduction in service is the Heathrow - Dublin route which will drop from 7 to 6 per day. The airline suffered it's biggest ever loss in 2008 and recently rolled back a decision to award a pay increase to staff for 2009. The cut backs will see 4 Airbus A320 taken out of service. Two will be wet leased to Lufthansa Italia for use on the newly launched Milan Malpensa - Heathrow route while the other two will be used for charter operations.

BMI engage Aer Lingus in war of words

With the 2008 passenger figures issued by the CAA, BMI have engaged Aer Lingus in a war of words over the lucrative Belfast - Heathrow slots according to the Belfast Telegraph. The newspaper reports that BMI's Managing Director Peter Spencer has said that Aer Lingus' claim to have 40% market share on Belfast - Heathrow was 'inaccurate', adding that BMI had retained the majority of it's business passengers since Aer Lingus launched it's Belfast International service a year ago. 'I know how many passengers I carry and I know how many they carry and my mathematics is that we have 66% market share'.

He added that 'If Aer Lingus think they are doing so well, I'm not really sure I understand why they've dropped their frequency from four to three a day'.

In response, Aer Lingus director of corporate affairs Enda Corneille said that 'passengers are deserting them (BMI) in droves'.

To the end of December, the UK CAA's figures show that 238,754 passengers travelled on BFS-LHR, served only by Aer Lingus and 521,913 travelled BHD-LHR, served only by BMI which gives 31.3% to Aer Lingus and 68.7% to BMI.

 

BMI 133 in emergency landing

Last night's flight BMI 133, operated by A320 G-MIDP from LHR to DUB made an emergency landing at Dublin after the pilot reported smoke in the cockpit. The aircraft landed safely shortly after 20.50 with emergency services in attendance. The aircraft was towed to parking where the 94 passengers and the crew made a normal exit from the aircraft. The aircraft was subsequently inspected by BMI engineers and has reentered service. The Air Accident Investigation Unit has commenced an investigation into the incident.