Bmi cuts routes from Heathrow
Bmi is about to cancel several flights out of London Heathrow Airport.
Claiming that it’s going through unprecedented market conditions, the Lufthansa-owned carrier has announced it will cut certain routes from Heathrow, including Brussels, Tel Aviv, Amsterdam, Kiev and Aleppo.
March 27, 2010, will mark the date when Bmi will halt its Amsterdam flights which will leave that destination to BA and KLM only.
As for Brussels, Tel Aviv and Aleppo, the carrier expects to terminate the routes on January 9, 2010. Kiev will be terminated a day later.
Besides route cuts, the airline will also carry out other cost reducing activities. This includes an equipment switch between the currently used Airbus A330 for a A321 as of April 2010 on their Cairo route, when the airline will end it lease agreement for two A330s.
Bmi officials said the carrier will now focus on routes which will provide the opportunities for growth such as in oil and energy destinations as well as emerging markets.
Meanwhile, Bmi has also announced that it’s considering reducing it’s workforce by 600 employees. The airline is remoured to have about 1,000 staff at its headquarters in Castle Donington.
The announcement comes only weeks after it’s the carrier’s low-cost offspring, Bmibaby, said 160 jobs around the country need to be cut.
Via a statement, Bmi officials revealed that they had started talks with unions and employee representatives in the hope of minimising compulsory job losses.’
