Fly bmi

[White Heather]

The rusty building (and it is built to appear that way) is on the site of the old BBC studios, but isn't anything to do with the BBC now. They live down at St Peters Street opposite the Leeds Bus Station. The other tall buildings are student accommodation for Leeds Universities. The DSS building is to the far left and is where I work!

 

[ex_crew]

Heather is correct , the rusty building which one building of year award ( Europe) is part of the University.
The DSS building is amazing.

 

[whoshotjimmi]

What a shame to see them leave , part of LBA history now departed , hopefully our doors will remain
always open for them.

We have had our " ups and downs " over the years with them.

Great memories with them commuting over the years , diversions to Teeside , scary landings on the "baby" DC-9. Amazing hot breakfasts on full flights and great laughs with the crews.

Sad to see them leave.

I think the airline you describe left a long time ago. I too remember my flights with them. From being greeted at 6am on Boxing Day with a bacon roll, newspaper and the biggest smile imaginable on a 737-500 to the time I had a panic attack on the back of an Embraer to Paris (which was cured with a complimentary beer).

Unfortunately, they have been on a slow, steady decline into nothing at LBA. A water salute was a spirited end to an airline who, otherwise, would have fizzled away without notice. An airline that, once, ruled LBA. An airline that, once, were something very special. The king is dead. Long live the king.

On the positive side, Mainline's eventual sale to BA reopened the door to Heathrow so, in one form or another, their legend will live on.

I have looked at the photo for a little while now and I am amazed that certain lenses and angles can squash Leeds so much. Such a large and sprawling city condensed into just a few pixels. The picture serves almost as a metaphor for BMI themselves.

 

[752]

When BMI was in their peak at LBA, what routes, aircrafts and frequency's did they operate?

 

[lbaspotter]

When BMI was in their peak at LBA, what routes, aircrafts and frequency's did they operate?

The bmi group at its peak was I think summer 2007 as they had 6x based aircraft.

1x A320 = My Travel Charters
Weekly flights to Rhodes, Fuerteventura, Zakynthos, Faro, Ibiza, Mahon, Dalaman, Reus, Alicante, Las Palmas, Malaga, Cyprus-Larnaca, Palma & Heraklion.
---------------------------------------
1x A319 =
Leeds-Heathrow-Leeds = BMA01J/4JL
Leeds-Heathrow-Leeds = BMA2LJ/5JL
Leeds-Heathrow-Leeds = BMA4LJ/7JL
Leeds-Heathrow-Leeds = BMA5LJ/8JL
---------------------------------------
1x Embrear 135 =
Leeds-Glasgow-Leeds = BMA1XV/1VX
Leeds-Copenaghen-Leeds = BMA491/492Q
Leeds-Glasgow-Leeds = BMA2XV/6VX
Leeds-Glasgow-Leeds = BMA3XV/3VX
------------------------------------------
3x Embrear 145
Leeds-Edinburgh-Leeds = BMA403/404
Leeds-Edinburgh-Leeds = BMA409/410
Leeds-Edinburgh-Leeds = BMA405/406
Leeds-Edinburgh-Leeds = BMA407/408
Leeds-Heathrow-Leeds = BMA421/422
-------------------------------------
Leeds-Brussels-Leeds = BMA611/612
Leeds-Lille-Leeds = BMA499/500
Leeds-Brussels-Leeds = BMA613/614
Leeds-Brussels-Leeds = BMA615/616
--------------------------------------
Leeds-Paris Cdg-Leeds = BMA493/494
Leeds-Paris Cdg-Leeds = BMA495/496
Leeds-Paris Cdg-Leeds = BMA497/498

 

[752]

Wow. What a shame that they decreased and decreased into operating a sole Brussels route.

 

[LUFC Jonno]

Sadly the slow decline started shortly after that. What were the reasons for Copenhagen and Paris being dropped?

 

[tleeds]

Anyone else remember the day's of them having multiple charters to Jersey on a Saturday afternoon?? Remember going up to the cemetery regularly on sunny, Saturday afternoons with my Dad a lot back in 2002/03/04 and there used to be 2 or 3 within the space of 2 hours.

Loved their old; Dark Navy and Red stripe livery (think it said just British Midland) along with their White a/c with what I think were stickers of all their alliance airlines...

 

[lbaspotter]

Looks like bmi regional will be making a return to Leeds/Bradford tomorrow, Tuesday, September 10th operating a charter flight as follows

BM8145 ETA 09:55 from Fanborough
BM9422 ETD 10:25 to Edinburgh

 

[Aviador]

Thanks LBAspotter, it will be good to see them return to LBA even if it is only for the one flight.

BMI Regional Water Canon Salute by norjet806, hosted on Forums4airports.com

 

[lbaspotter]

They will also be in on the next day Wednesday, September 11th as well by looks off things operating the return charter.

BMR9432 ETA 14:00 from Aberdeen
BMR8146 ETD 15:00 to Farnborough

 

[a300boy]

EMB145 G-RJXF has just taken off !! . Wonder why its not on the arrivals or departure boards.

 

[lbaspotter]

It was showing on the airports live arrivals and departure boards earlier, and tomorrow's flights are still both showing now.

Another reason as to why it was removed maybe because they are private charters so been handled over on the Southside by Multiflight instead of using servisair over on main apron and terminal side.

 

[lbaspotter]

Bmi are back!

Just being announced that flybmi will be returning to LBA next year 2019 operating a new once daily service to Munich from April.

BMI website press release
https://www.flybmi.com/en/press/flybmi-announces-leeds-bradford-to-munich-route

 

[Aviador]

Hurrah!!!!

 

[White Heather]

This is the announcement I referred to 10 days ago - and as indicated within the press release it could well lead to more in the future. I have suspected Flybmi was the airline as (don't know if anyone else noticed), since last Friday, when you google Flybmi, a box pops up with the airline logo, details of the fleet size etc. and Leeds Bradford was listed as a hub. And they fly several German routes and we had been told it was a route to Germany. With an Embraer, there is no reason why this route cannot do really well.

 

[White Heather]

Incidentally, I think that this thread needs either having it's title amended, or these last few posts transferring to a new one, as it isn't BMI Regional any more is it? Their official name is Fly bmi.

 

[LBA4EVER]

Finally some good news! maybe they will trial this route and if successful add extra routes to german cities?

 

[leedslad]

Great news. In the same alliance as Lufthansa which is key. Also daily which really helps for business.

My only qualm would be typically needs to be twice daily to be of optimum use for business. Beggars can't be choosers and all that, but that's the reality...
Imagine you've a meeting to attend in Munich, what are the odds the timing of a once daily flight fit with your plans? Otherwise its off to Manc... Let's hope its a success and they increase to twice daily!

 

[Finger66]

I think there will be some good feed into the LH route network. Certainly some point to point leisure traffic and businesses will use it. Although small, it is a boost and a step in the right direction. A 49 seat jet is just what these sorts of routes need to build them up. And, just maybe, if it starts to build nicely then others may just start to show an interest in the wider German market. I understand there is BRU to follow but that is supposed to be on a based a/c so Flybmi will need to find one first. Not to mention the dreaded B word. Anyway let's focus on the MUC good news for oneone