bmi relaunches shorthaul product, dumps Business class. Codesharing with Austrian

bmi announced (18-Jan-2010) the relaunch of its short-haul product across all UK and Ireland services to/from London Heathrow Airport, removing its Business class cabin from the services. The carrier has introduced a new single Economy cabin with enhanced services for customers travelling on Flexible Economy fares, such as guaranteed seating, use of lounges and complimentary food and beverages. The new product will be rolled out on 27-Jan-2010. bmi is also planning to launch a new London Heathrow-Vienna service, effective 28-Mar-2010, to be operated under a codeshare agreement with Austrian Airlines. The agreement will cover five times daily services operated by both airlines. Austrian's three times daily with B737-800 equipment and twice daily bmi service with A320 equipment. The move opens up various connections between the UK, the Middle East and Eastern Europe. [more]

bmi: "We have relaunched bmi's UK & Ireland product in response to customer feedback to meet their needs in a changing marketplace. Customers travelling on our higher fares value business lounges, a seat at the front of the aircraft and complimentary food and drink but most no longer have business class travel policies for short flight travel. We have created a new service which delivers these important benefits, but on an all Economy aircraft, so they also benefit from a lower level of APD," Dominic Paul, Managing Director. Source: bmi, 18-Jan-2010.