25 April 2008

Airlines feel like 'second class citizens' at Heathrow, says bmi chairman

Bmi and other airlines at Heathrow are fed up with being treated as second class citizens after ''being charged through the nose"for Terminal 5, said bmi group chairman Sir Michael Bishop today.

Speaking at an Aviation Club event in London, Bishop said Heathrow had been the subject of a "sorry tale of reputational disaster".

He also complained that airlines were given only 30 minutes notice about delays of the long-planned moves.

He urged BAA to redouble its efforts to ensure the same fate does not befall Heathrow East, the terminal being developed to replace Terminal 1.

"We donÃ¢â¬â¢t place any blame for sins of the past at the feet of Ferrovial, so recently charged with the management of Heathrow. Indeed in the case of Terminal 5, the die was firmly cast long before the Ferrovial acquisition.

"But events now continue to cause huge reputational loss at Heathrow. And I urge BAA to re-prioritise and redouble their efforts on the Heathrow East project and ensure its completion in time for the opening of the Olympics in 2012 with all the necessary functionality we require."

Addressing the speculation surrounding bmiÃ¢â¬â¢s ownership, he said: "I can confidently say that bmiÃ¢â¬â¢s shareholders will not permit an event to arise through which the airline would become the subject of any opportunistic or under-valued approach.

"Whether bmi remains independent and grows through acquisition or whether the shareholders decide another course, we will not be bounced into any particular direction by comments from other carriers or the media.

By: Bev Fearis