Heer Prock-Schauer has announced a revamp of the A321 fleet and a few other titbits as part of the restructuring of BMI.
Speaking to Flight, some announcements have been made which could make for interesting times in BMI land..
So whats up for work?
- A321 going for refurbishment works, with new business class seats and IFE being installed. In addition, they will finally be getting round the painting the aircraft they inherited from BMED and the ones still in old British Midland colours into the White/Blue colour scheme that I still think is very fetching (what he refers to as “The Whale Colour Scheme”).
- UK Domestic – BMI is basically rolling over to it’s competitors, by reducing frequency to the regions, but running bigger aircraft. Expect the spare slots to be utilised for more European and Middle Eastern routes
- Long Haul – Attempt Number 2? I’ll leave you with this food for thought:
“We are evaluating certain projects on the North Atlantic. That could be a complementary offering because of the huge traffic flow from the Middle East, via London, to North America.”
It’s common knowledge that a mixture of market environments and poor leasing costs for the A330’s contributed to the closure of the Manchester
USA routes, combined with BMI’s revenue management unable to manage… well anything if I’m blunt.
If BMI is going to mount an offensive to the USA, it’s got to be planned carefully with United, Continental and even US Airways, and it’s got to put big paying passengers on seats. And have the aircraft to match.
Unless BMI really doesn’t have the fight in it thanks to Mutti Lufthansa, and will just roll over and instigate more code shares that don’t make sense.
And of course – no further announcement about the Diamond Club to Miles and More oncoming merger.
Flight international – http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2010/08/26/346686/restructuring-bmi-plans-a321-revamp.html
