26 November 2009

Bmi cuts routes and jobs

Five routes from Heathrow are being dropped by Bmi as the carrier battles against "unprecedented market conditions".

Flights to Tel Avis, Kiev, Aleppo, Amsterdam and Brussels are being suspended.

Job cuts will come from all areas of the business, operational and corporate functions.

The number of full-time equivalent jobs at risk of redundancy is expected to be approximately 600.

But further job cuts "cannot be ruled" out as corporate overheads will also be cut to reflect the reduced flying programme, the airline said.

Management has today commenced consultations with unions and staff representatives with a view to minimising the number of compulsory job losses wherever possible.

A lease agreement on two wide body Airbus A330s is to end in April next year, meaning a smaller A321 will operate the Heathrow-Cairo route.

The restructuring programme will see the following routes dropped:

London Heathrow-Tel Aviv. Last flight ex Heathrow 9 January 2010, last flight ex Tel Aviv 10 January 2010.
London Heathrow-Kiev. Last flights 10 January 2010.
London Heathrow-Aleppo. Last flight ex Heathrow 9 January 2010, last flight ex Aleppo 10 January 2010.
London Heathrow-Amsterdam. Last flights 27 March 2010
London Heathrow-Brussels. Last flights 9 January 2010.

The Lufthansa-owned airline will focus on routes serving oil, energy and emerging markets with a particular focus on business class passengers and those visiting friends and relatives.

Bmi said it is to maintain its current UK and Ireland network providing frequency for business travellers and feeder connections for its own network and that of Star Alliance.

Routes are being suspended to "improve the profitability" of the carrier.

Lufthansa is "committed to helping Bmi restructure the airline to return it to profitability."

Bmi managing director Dominic Paul said: "We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience the route suspensions cause our customers and travel agents and would like to take this opportunity to thank those who have supported us on these routes for their loyalty and business.

"Agents holding Bmi bookings on affected routes need to ticket by 1 December to be eligible for reprotection.

"Agents will be contacted from 2 December with reprotection options."

by Phil Davies