Apparently bmi is set for some big announcement on 02 April, under the banner "Our Time Is Coming".

Posters have appeared in offices around the network stating that staff are going to be invited to training courses...."....outlining our future, how it affects you and how we can make it successful."

Anybody have any ideas on what it could be. I'm guessing some big change in service, if all ground staff are being invited for training sessions.

Rumours are rife that Bmi will be taking over GB airways...

Not sure as to the reliability, wouldnt surprise me though.

That said GB have a big announcement themselves on Thursday (1 Mar) so perhaps that will shed some light...

Shouldn't BMI make their announcement on 01 APR ? , It seems quite fitting the way they are running their businesss these days

Quoting Antonovman (Reply 2): Shouldn't BMI make their announcement on 01 APR ? , It seems quite fitting the way they are running their businesss these days

   

Nice one...

My God, SMB, you are straddling around this business like a kid in a playground...

Here's an idea of the announcement:

BMI launching...

MAN-SEA with a 332
LHR-AUH with a 767
LBA-CPT with a Concorde
LHR-LCY with a CRJ
Code-share with British Rail


SMB, I love your passion for your airline, but you really need to start focusing

Kevin777  

Quoting Bmiexpat (Thread starter): "Our Time Is Coming".

Is it just me or does that slogan sound more like a kiss of death rather than something positive?  

What is this about a GB announcement on the 1st March?

There is a rumour on Flyertalk that they are set to relaunch themselves as British Midland again and adopt a different concept onboard, some thinks it is taking them back to the Diamond days.

Who knows? Maybe they are starting a bmibaby franchise in Congo with links to Hong Kong?

Quoting Kevin777 (Reply 3): BMI launching... MAN-SEA with a 332 LHR-AUH with a 767 LBA-CPT with a Concorde LHR-LCY with a CRJ Code-share with British Rail

lol      

Quoting Kevin777 (Reply 3): LBA-CPT with a Concorde

Yes please 

Quoting Kevin777 (Reply 3): Code-share with British Rail

Virgin Trans between MAN and LON I heard  

Nothing to do with the integration of BMed is it?

Would be good for bmi to take over GB Airways - would create an even stronger challenger for BA and give bmi flights to destinations like Casablanca and Tunis as well as GB's more leisure orientated routes

BMI's plans with BMED and how it will work have no specific set date for when plans will be announced, just that it will be as soon as possible.

If they were to take over GB a date would not be set for that either, look at when they took over BMED, no specific date was set for that.

Quoting Kevin777 (Reply 3): Code-share with British Rail

Was this an attempt at irony? British Rail hasn't existed for more than 10 years!

Quoting Bmiexpat (Thread starter): Our Time Is Coming

Again? Hopefully this time they'll get it right (but don't hold your breath).

They are planning to increase Arab routes; whether or not this is related to this or not, I don't know.

They're possibly rebranding back to British Midland again

1.Taking over the FCA shorthaul bit of FCA?
2. Being re-branded as Virgin European?
3. Taking over Railtrack!!

Option 2 Maybe? Nah...probably something dull ?

mergin' with Virgin ? ( hey , at least it rhymes  )

Quoting Kiwiandrew (Reply 15): mergin' with Virgin ? ( hey , at least it rhymes )

BMIVirgin! ( A bit old for a Virgin )   

Virgin British maybe?

Although I didn't read the thread, only the headline, that Virgin have pushed back delivery of long haul aircraft.. maybe if they're merging, they can use BMI's Airbuses, and BMI will become Virgin's Domestic and european feeder.

Let's face it, there's Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Nigeria, Virgin America, so why not Virgin Britain or Virgin European?

I know someone's bound to poo poo the idea, and call it "Virgin On The Ridiculous!"   

Quoting TCXDegsy (Reply 17): Let's face it, there's Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Nigeria, Virgin America, so why not Virgin Britain or Virgin European?

Or an extention to Virgin Express?

Anybody think thet BMI & Aer Lingus could be a good partnership? Similar Fleet, Routes, Prices.

A strategy? A new livery? A coherent business plan?

Isn't a new guy running BMI now. I belive his Lebanese, no? I could sware that I read it somewhere.

Quoting Swiftski (Reply 12): They are planning to increase Arab routes; whether or not this is related to this or not, I don't know.

That would be through an EY codeshare on the LHR AUH route, I believe.

Quoting HB-IWC (Reply 22): That would be through an EY codeshare on the LHR AUH route, I believe.

wouldnt it make more sense code-sharing with QR on the LHR-DOH route ?

Quoting HB-IWC (Reply 22): That would be through an EY codeshare on the LHR AUH route, I believe.

On their recruitment site they state: "Due to our current expansion to Riyadh, arabic speakers are advised to register their interest."

What about the route BOM -LHR -BOM , do they still not have a plane for that route or is that route permanantly discontinued ?

Quoting SK736 (Reply 11): Quoting Kevin777 (Reply 3): Code-share with British Rail Was this an attempt at irony? British Rail hasn't existed for more than 10 years!

Sorry... I'm not updated on British rail history... But I know there's something called Virgin Trains or something..!.. That's it..

Quoting Swiftski (Reply 18): Or an extention to Virgin Express?

You mean Brussels Airlines...

Quoting B773ER (Reply 25): What about the route BOM -LHR -BOM , do they still not have a plane for that route or is that route permanantly discontinued ?

Snowball's chance in hell... no don't believe it at all..

Kevin777  

Quoting B773ER (Reply 25): What about the route BOM -LHR -BOM , do they still not have a plane for that route or is that route permanantly discontinued ?

Permanently discontinued. The route was originally stopped due to the cracked undercarriage on the A330. A convenient reason to get out quietly. The aircraft in question is now being wet leased to Virgin Nigeria.

The Middle East is this year's focus for bmi. They crave Cairo and a couple of other destinations. Although this being bmi it might all change and next year South America might be the next big thing for them  

Quoting Cornish (Reply 27): A convenient reason to get out quietly.

Indeed.... If just anybody had bought it as the real reason behind the withdrawal..

Quoting Cornish (Reply 27): The Middle East is this year's focus for bmi. They crave Cairo and a couple of other destinations. Although this being bmi it might all change and next year South America might be the next big thing for them

He.... Well, maybe they should stick to Africa and M.E.

I mean, they'll get some North Africa with BMed (right?), then Cairo, Riyadh, maybe one of either DOH; AUH or DXB, maybe Amman.. at least they'd have some sort of focus then

Kevin777

Quoting Cornish (Reply 27): Permanently discontinued. The route was originally stopped due to the cracked undercarriage on the A330. A convenient reason to get out quietly. The aircraft in question is now being wet leased to Virgin Nigeria.

This is not the same aircraft. The A330 in question is now fixed and in service for BMI in Manchester.

Quoting Avianca (Reply 23): wouldnt it make more sense code-sharing with QR on the LHR-DOH route ?

I think they do?

Quoting ContinentalEWR (Reply 20): A strategy? A new livery? A coherent business plan?

A strategy and business plan would be nice but a new livery is not needed, the planes look great.

Quoting Eric (Reply 6): There is a rumour on Flyertalk that they are set to relaunch themselves as British Midland again and adopt a different concept onboard, some thinks it is taking them back to the Diamond days.

Now this i would love! but i noticed the other day that there are new signs up in LHR T1 at the ticket desk and check-in that all still have BMI on them so I don't see a name change soon. They have done away with the "swish" from the bottom corner which was meant to symbolic of a plane taking off, but i don't think anyone ever noticed it anyway.

I have heard that business class is meant to be coming back on all routes but in the style of the Moscow business class with proper seats and not just the converter seats, but it's all just rumour at this stage.

Quoting Kevin777 (Reply 28): I mean, they'll get some North Africa with BMed (right?), then Cairo, Riyadh, maybe one of either DOH; AUH or DXB, maybe Amman.. at least they'd have some sort of focus then

and to be fair to them - Jeddah and Riyadh is working well for them. Bu tthen when the only competition direct is Saudi, thats no surprise. Up against stronger contenders it woubt undoubtedly be harder - although the STAR connection would help.

Don't forget they did announce Doha only for it to turn into a complete debacle when the UK CAA saw through it as the complete sham it was....

Quoting Cornish (Reply 30): Don't forget they did announce Doha only for it to turn into a complete debacle when the UK CAA saw through it as the complete sham it was....

What's the story??.. Must have missed it..!

Quoting Lovinitflyboy (Reply 29): Now this i would love! but i noticed the other day that there are new signs up in LHR T1 at the ticket desk and check-in that all still have BMI on them so I don't see a name change soon. They have done away with the "swish" from the bottom corner which was meant to symbolic of a plane taking off, but i don't think anyone ever noticed it anyway.

Re-branding witth higher service levels (Diamond etc.) sounds excellent at first glance - getting out of the fierce price-competition and start to differentiate your product; create your own little monopoly (page 1 in any strategy book). But it does not work in the short-medium haul airline industry - not when it's deregulated. People are suckers for low fares in this market (also C-pax for short haul), and at the end of the day they don't want to pay much extra for better food or more legroom. Lesson: Be very careful with differentiating yourself out of your problems, when you are in this industry.

Kevin777

Quoting Kevin777 (Reply 31): What's the story??.. Must have missed it..!

To keep it as simple as i can. bmi announced a LHR-DOH flight (early last year i think, or possibly earlier) in conjunction with Qatar Airways. It would be a bmi flight but would be operated by Qatar Airways on a QR aircraft for them, with seats sold by both carriers.

QR cannot operate any more flights into LHR under the terms of the UK-Qatar bilateral. So the CAA ruled that this service couldn't happen as it was obviously a QR flight (with nothing more than a BD codeshare on it) utilising a BD slot. Which is exactly how everyone else saw it too. No doubt QR had in effect offered BD a good chunk of cash to utilise a spare BD slot and thereby get round the bilateral - but it didn't work.

If BD had wanted to operate the service as the claimed they could simply have leased in an aircraft a la the Arkefly 767 (as they had no A330s free at that time) and operated it. Instead they "leased" the service to the one carrier who had most to gain on the route.

Quoting Cornish (Reply 32): To keep it as simple as i can. bmi announced a LHR-DOH flight (early last year i think, or possibly earlier) in conjunction with Qatar Airways. It would be a bmi flight but would be operated by Qatar Airways on a QR aircraft for them, with seats sold by both carriers. QR cannot operate any more flights into LHR under the terms of the UK-Qatar bilateral. So the CAA ruled that this service couldn't happen as it was obviously a QR flight (with nothing more than a BD codeshare on it) utilising a BD slot. Which is exactly how everyone else saw it too. No doubt QR had in effect offered BD a good chunk of cash to utilise a spare BD slot and thereby get round the bilateral - but it didn't work. If BD had wanted to operate the service as the claimed they could simply have leased in an aircraft a la the Arkefly 767 (as they had no A330s free at that time) and operated it. Instead they "leased" the service to the one carrier who had most to gain on the route.

Thanks for the info, Cornish! Good story, never heard it... But I wonder how they ever thought they could win this case, I mean, a pretty straight code-share made for a pretty thin case..

Kevin777

Quoting Kevin777 (Reply 33): But I wonder how they ever thought they could win this case,

Well you have to remember that many of the good people who understood airline operations in bmi senior mangement have gone. These days their replacements are invariably marketing experts and the like. the "Our Time is Coming" sounds suspiciously like the pet project of one of these types....  

Quoting Cornish (Reply 34): These days their replacements are invariably marketing experts and the like. the "Our Time is Coming" sounds suspiciously like the pet project of one of these types....

So typical marketing... the "science" of the obvious... I'm in finance myself, needless to say our respect for marketing people at Copenhagen Business School is very modest, at best..

Our Time is Coming... My Goooooood it sounds so vague...

Kevin777  

It will probably be the results of there RFP for new aircraft. They are looking into aquiring 40 new aircraft. This will probably be an order to airbus to get rid of there last remaning 737 in the fleet flying with the BMIbaby scheme.

Quoting Antonovman (Reply 2):

Quoting Kevin777 (Reply 3):

Quoting Eric (Reply 6):

Quoting BMIFlyer (Reply 8):

Do you guys ever stop when it comes to bmi? I think we've heard all these jokes a million times and they really are wearing very thin. (Or is it just me??!)

Quoting Cornish (Reply 27): The aircraft in question is now being wet leased to Virgin Nigeria.

Quoting Lovinitflyboy (Reply 29): This is not the same aircraft. The A330 in question is now fixed and in service for BMI in Manchester.

Correct, Lovinitflyboy. G-WWBB was the damaged a/c, but it is G-WWBD which is leased to Virgin Nigeria.

Quoting UK_Dispatcher (Reply 37): Do you guys ever stop when it comes to bmi? I think we've heard all these jokes a million times and they really are wearing very thin

Quoting UK_Dispatcher (Reply 37): (Or is it just me??!)

Guess so!  

Come on, they're asking for it.

Kevin777

Quoting UK_Dispatcher (Reply 37): Quoting Lovinitflyboy (Reply 29): This is not the same aircraft. The A330 in question is now fixed and in service for BMI in Manchester. Correct, Lovinitflyboy. G-WWBB was the damaged a/c, but it is G-WWBD which is leased to Virgin Nigeria.

Ah thanks for the correction on that. But it is still the case that the ending of BOM has led to a spare A330 being available to be leased out to VK rather than put into service elsewhere on BD's route network. By all accounts for an offer to good to refuse...

Just received this email from BMI:

'We are delighted to announce that bmibaby will shortly be joining bmi diamond club as a full airline partner. We wanted you to be the first to know and share in our excitement, which means even more benefits to members as you will be able to earn destinations miles on bmibaby operated flights.

All details will be revealed shortly, including the official date when you can start earning miles on bmibaby flights.'

Quoting N (Reply 40): 'We are delighted to announce that bmibaby will shortly be joining bmi diamond club as a full airline partner. We wanted you to be the first to know and share in our excitement, which means even more benefits to members as you will be able to earn destinations miles on bmibaby operated flights. All details will be revealed shortly, including the official date when you can start earning miles on bmibaby flights

That's their big news???? Come on, merging in the LCC-child (or getting rid of it) is kind of out of fashion now.. but ok better late than never.

Quoting EI321 (Reply 19): Anybody think thet BMI & Aer Lingus could be a good partnership? Similar Fleet, Routes, Prices.

No way !!!! They are better apart .

Quoting Kevin777 (Reply 41): That's their big news???? Come on, merging in the LCC-child (or getting rid of it) is kind of out of fashion now.. but ok better late than never.

As the thread states ''Bmi Announcement 02.04.2007 '' So no its not the ''big news''. It will be most likely about a possible re brand or service/product upgrade. Maybe they will announce a few things on the one day !!!!

Quoting UK_Dispatcher (Reply 37): G-WWBB was the damaged a/c

I'm 100% sure it was G-WWBM which had the cracked landing gear. G-WWBD is currently flying for VK from LGW-LOS, while -BB and -BM are in service from Manchester to ORD and LAS/BGI/ANU.

Both bmi and bmibaby are announcing a major campaign to boost the number of business passengers who use their services, with a revamp of the product the airlines offer. bmi I believe are making an announcement in London, whilst bmibaby will be making one in Birmingham.

Released today :::

bmi to focus on the business passenger - launch of new initiative is next step in airline's evolution

release date: 28/02/2007

bmi, London Heathrow’s second largest airline, is to launch a new customer initiative focusing on the business traveller following eight months of consultation and feedback with both customers and staff.

The initiative, which goes live on 2 April, will see the introduction of an improved offering and product for the airline’s most loyal customers – diamond club members. While a paid-for in-flight catering service will remain a feature of mainline services from Heathrow, all diamond club members* will be entitled to complimentary food and drink onboard, priority seating towards the front of the aircraft and will continue to enjoy the benefits of one of the UK’s most generous frequent flyer programmes, through the lounge network and rewards scheme.

Under the new initiative diamond club will see the introduction of a new tier – blue plus – which is automatically awarded once 3,000 status miles have been earned in a 12 month period. Holders of blue plus, silver and gold cards will receive the complimentary in-flight meal as well all other diamond club benefits.

Nigel Turner, bmi chief executive officer, said: “We know that our most important customers are frequent flyers who often travel with us on business – a group that makes up a considerable proportion of our total passengers. They are looking for value for money, friendly welcoming service and want to be recognised and rewarded. Our new initiative delivers on all these points as well as helping to set out the future direction of the company, building on key strengths such as market-leading punctuality and a quick and efficient airport experience.

“Whilst our focus is on the business traveller we will continue to apply our ‘making travelling a pleasure’ ethos to all our passengers, whatever their purpose of travel. Customer feedback shows us time and time again that our people make bmi the preferred choice of airline, and significant investment in ongoing training will ensure that continues to be the case for all our customers.

“The airline industry has been through a period of massive change in the past five years – a process that continues today. By developing and evolving our products and services we can ensure we continue to meet and exceed the expectations of our customers and remain competitive in the marketplace.”

Well, interesting. Of course it is more of that irritated "strategy" of theirs, not very coherent, but innovative for sure.

The only thing that strikes me is BD shifting their network from business routes to leisure routes, and then launching (what they claim to be) an effort to win over business travelers.

In sum: absolutely idiotic

Quoting Albird87 (Reply 36): This will probably be an order to airbus to get rid of there last remaning 737 in the fleet flying with the BMIbaby scheme.

"remaining" is a somewhat misleading term to use to describe the 737s, while a fair portion of them are ex BD, many are ex GO/EZY aircraft. I suspect that they will leave the fleet pretty soon to be replaced with a mix of A319 and E-190.

Quoting OA260 (Reply 45): bmi to focus on the business passenger - launch of new initiative is next step in airline's evolution

Interesting, very interesting. This is a VERY inniovative solution. So there is going to be a sperate 'class' towards the fromt of the aircraft.The freebies will keep the business pax happy, and the no-frills will keep the leisure pax happy.I wonder if this class will be available for purchase?"Premium Economy", perhaps? What will happen on routes where there is currently a J class? I assume *A silver and Gold will be treated as Diamond blue+/silver/gold?

Brian.

One more flight and I will be a blue plus member!

Sounds like they have woken up at last.

Quoting UK_Dispatcher (Reply 37): G-WWBB was the damaged a/c, but it is G-WWBD which is leased to Virgin Nigeria

Quoting Bmidispatcher (Reply 43): I'm 100% sure it was G-WWBM which had the cracked landing gear. G-WWBD is currently flying for VK from LGW-LOS, while -BB and -BM are in service from Manchester to ORD and LAS/BGI/ANU

from: http://www.flybmi.com/bmi/en-gb/abou...ssreleases.aspx?year=2006&rid=1037

• Airbus A330 G-WWBM was manufactured in 2001 and was introduced into service at bmi in April of 2001.

• The technical problem is a cracked wing main landing gear rib 6 aft bearing lug, discovered during a routine maintenance inspection. The aircraft was immediately withdrawn from service.

• bmi operates two further Airbus A330 aircraft which were checked immediately they were on the ground. There was no evidence of the technical problem affecting aircraft registration G-WWBM.

• Repair work will commence on G-WWBM on 30 October 2006.

• Services to Mumbai have been suspended since 2 October 2006.

• bmi launched services from Heathrow to Mumbai in May 2005.