bmibaby announces network overhaul

bmibaby announced (13-Apr-2011) plans to cease all operations at Manchester and Cardiff airports following summer 2011. The LCC operates 13 routes and bases two aircraft at Manchester. Two aircraft are also based at Cardiff. The LCC attributed the decision to the "economic climate", adding it will focus on areas with strong growth opportunities. The LCC announced plans to base two additional aircraft at Belfast City Airport and launch seven new routes for summer 2012, including services to Malaga, Alicante, Palma, Faro and Ibiza, winter 2011 services to Geneva and a year-round service to Amsterdam. bmibaby also announced plans to grow at East Midlands Airport and Birmingham Airport, with a additional aircraft at each base. From East Midlands, bmibaby plans to offer two new routes to Toulouse and Chambery for winter 2011. bmibaby will be the only LCC to operate on these routes. More new routes for summer 2012 from Birmingham and East Midlands Airport will be announced soon, the airline says. [more]

bmibaby: "In the current economic climate it is essential for bmibaby to focus on airports where the airline already has a strong market presence and where there are strong growth opportunities for the bmibaby business. Therefore bmibaby has optimised their current flying programme and as a result of this bmibaby will cease operations from Cardiff Airport and from Manchester Airport at the end of the summer 2011 flying programme. bmi, British Midland International will keep a significant presence at Manchester Airport and recently announced a new service to Frankfurt operated on behalf of Lufthansa, and in addition bmi launched a new service from Manchester to Basel in Switzerland. bmi regional operate frequent services from Manchester Airport to Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Lyon." Julian Carr, managing director. Source: bmibaby, 13-Apr-2011.