Fly bmi

[White Heather]

Re: bmi

Bmi have introduced a Code Share agreement with Brussels Airlines, allowing direct booking through from LBA to numerous European Cities. This has to be good news as it encourages people to fly into Europe via BRU rather than always using LHR or AMS etc. If this produces encouraging results, there must be a chance that in time the E135 on this route will prove inadequate, so lets hope it leads to an upgrade of equipment to something a little better. As I posted on the KLM site, this challenge might also focus KLM/Air France's attention on ensuring that they do not lose their position at LBA and they may contemplate hitting back with either an additional rotation, or perhaps an upgrade to the E190. What does everyone else think?

 

[stewief1]

Re: bmi

I flew this codeshare in July this year from LBA-BRU-OSL and return. Interestingly, the codeshare only seems valid on the early morning BMI departure and evening arrival back to LBA (certainly applicable to the OSL route). The price is very good and certainly cheaper than KLM and comparable to that of LH from MAN (i like to support my local airport when i can). My connecting flight to OSL was with SAS which is a shame, because they even charge for water onboard! Alas, the flights with BMI were very good, and occupancy was about 70% outbound and 100% inbound. Transit in BRU was fine - no worse or better than LHR to be honest, just less busy. Due to the Schengen rules, transiting through customs and transferring to a different terminal if you ex UK and transit via a euro airport, although necessary, is a bit of a faff and time consuming (i do stand to be corrected on any inaccuracies).

 

[White Heather]

Re: bmi

Thanks Stewief1 - I think that in view of the recent announcement about this from LBA and EDI, that the flight times have been tweaked maybe, to enable more connections. That might result in the code share being more readily available in the future.

 

[lbaspotter]

Re: bmi

Whats going on with bmi regional just at the moment?

Yesterday saw the current based Embrear 135, G-RJXP positioned out to Groningen as BD9131 and has not returned to base for some reason. So yesterday Glasgow based Embrear 135, G-RJXL positioned in empty as BD9132 and operated the evenings BD1615/1616 Brussels service in direct replacement. Then for some other reason the evenings BD1298/1297 Glasgow service was cancelled and passenger were transffered and put onto the larger Embraer 145, G-RJXA which was operating the Edinburgh BD1410/1409 service.

Todays Brussels services BD1611/1612, BD1613/1614 & BD1615/1615 have all been cancelled for some apparent reason while the Glasgow based Embrear 135, G-RJXL that night stopped last night positioned back empty to Glasgow this morning as BD683V.

Tonight for some reason we have an extra inbound BD1238 service. This is the normal late Brussels to East Midlands scheduled service. So it looks as though the aircraft will drop into LBA off load some passengers and then position back East Midlands as BD1238A

So again LBA will be left without a based aircraft to operate tomorrow mornings early outbound Brussels BD1611 service.

 

[White Heather]

Re: bmi

It all sounds fairly normal for BMi to me!!

But seriously, we have had discussions about this airline before and their antics, and whether they should expand or just do us a favour and go away. Personally I think they are becoming something of a joke at LBA and would welcome them going forth to multiply, allowing an airline such as Flybe to pick up the routes and do them properly.

(apologies to any BMi people reading this - the airline used to be a real benefit to LBA until a few years ago, but in my view, they are just messing about over the past couple of years.)

 

[lbaspotter]

Re: bmi

They must have seen my post as i said that bmi regional, Embrear 135, G-RJXP has just position in empty from Aberdeen as BD9151 to operate this afternoons BD1613/4 and BD1615/6 services.

 

[ravmanlba]

Re: bmi

Just for the info, what routes have bmi operated out of LBA over say, last few years and why were they cancelled? I know they oeprated a Copenhagen route until fairly recently?

If we are left with just GLA, EDI and BRU and what, one based aircraft, are we still really a 'base'?

thanks

 

[wawkrk]

Re: bmi

In the old days I used the Sabena connections through BRU regularly.
The Brasilia night stopped at LBA I remember, it was actually operated on their behalf by an airline who's name I forgot.
The Brasilia was pretty dire in Winter because this is a non prsseurised aircraft.Quite scary in bad weather for a fairly long flight.
Eventually Sabena upgraded to the 146 which was great.
I used AMS and LHR for long haul.

 

[wawkrk]

Re: bmi

I remembered the airline. DAT. Delta Air Transport in Sabena colours.
Does anyone know how long this service lasted?

 

[White Heather]

Re: bmi

I seem to recall that the DAT operation with the Brasilia aircraft lasted perhaps 2 years before it was upgraded to a BAe146, although I think to start with at least that was still a DAT aircraft operating on behalf of Sabena. I am not sure though, so someone may be able to correct me. I do remember the airport MD at the time stating that the Brasilia was a very advanced aircraft (of its type) as it had a superb climb rate and operated faster and higher than other similar aircraft types. Now it may seem like nothing much, but at the time most of the LBA flights were operated by Sheds (Shorts 360's) and most things were better than them surely?

 

[eastcoaster]

Re: bmi

In between the Brasilia and the BAe146, Sabena used their Dash 8 aircraft. Can't remember the dates off hand, but they used them for at least a couple of years.

 

[Bigman]

Re: bmi

I flew to Brussels in 1993 on a Brasilia. As well as DAT, there was one aircraft operated by Air Meuse which often turned up. Cracking aircraft to fly on The worked for quite a few years, and then we got DH8/3's. They also had 3 ATR72's which sometimes paid a visit. The RJ85's and RJ100's then took over.

 

[wawkrk]

Re: bmi

My experience with the Brasilia was not good. I think I used it about 20 times.
I remember one time we were flying between two nasty cloud layers at about 9000ft for an hour or more.
We were tossed around like a small toy.
On another occasion I was sitting in a front window seat. The propshaft appeared to be running so far out of true,
we were being shaken to pieces. When my breakfast tray arrived it was bouncing so much on the table, it was impossible
to eat.The stewardess brought a big pile of newspapers to act as a cushion so then I could just about manage.
I also remember that there were about 12 flights leaving around the same time every morning. We were once weighed
down with ice which took a lot of blasting off. Then, we must have queued for seemed about an hour for our turn to take off.
I could see the ice re-forming on the wings and it scared the hell out of me.

 

[johnrgowan]

Re: bmi

Brasilia was pretty dire in Winter because this is a non prsseurised aircraft.

The Brasilia is a pressurised aircraft with a service celing of 29,800ft.

 

[wawkrk]

Re: bmi

So which aircraft was it then? It certainly only flew low I remember.

 

[wawkrk]

Re: bmi

Hi John, yes you are correct of course so my memory is failing but I know it was not nice to fly in.
I cannot remember ever flying high above the bad weather.
Also if you search the aircraft's history, there was some issues with engine vibration and also some icing problems.
The early morning starts in freezing conditions were unpleasent.

 

[Bigman]

Re: bmi

We flew at about 19,000ft coming back to LBA. Lovely flight..could see Immingham clearly as we flew over the coast.

 

[wawkrk]

Re: bmi

(We flew at about 19,000ft coming back to LBA. Lovely flight..could see Immingham clearly as we flew over the coast.)

I think you may have ended my confusion Bigman.If this was a typical cruising level for DAT, then maybe when cloud formations were at the same level, we possibly flew lower. I cannot remember flying with clear sky above but then again, I don't think I got to use the Brasilia during Summer the time.

 

[lbaspotter]

Re: British Midland International (BMI)

Hi

Looks like bmi regional may have some compertition on the LBA-Glasgow route come the summer. As by all acounts Scotish regional airline, Loganair has applied for 3x daily LBA-GLA slots today.

I wonder if bmi may decide to drop the Glasgow-LBA and close the Glasgow base altogether at the end of March as they have just announced that they are axing the 7x daily Heathrow-Glasgow route at the end of the winter schedule as well.

 

[Aviador]

Re: British Midland International (BMI)

It is looking more and more likely that British Midland International bmi is going to be changing its UK strategy concentrating on linking the regions to the airlines Star Alliance partners in Brussels and its other hubs. A member of the airlines cabin crew told me the the airline was looking to serve FRA from LBA this year. I didn't think much of HU because we've heard it so many times before but it is starting to seem more plausible now.