bigeckster,

Thanks for the update, I hadn't seen that bit. Buster has now cancelled the flight and is going skiing somewhere else so it's irrelevant now.

Darren

BMI is being taken over by Lufthansa ... click here for more info.

David

Lufthansa takes over bmi

Lufthansa is buying a controlling stake in bmi, for a sum believed to be around £320 million.

The German carrier, which already owned 30% of the airline, is buying the 50.1% share owned by Sir Michael Bishop.

Analysts now expect Lufthansa to make a bid for the remaining 20%, currently owned by SAS, which has put the stake and itself up for sale.

The deal will see Lufthansa become the second largest airline operating out of London Heathrow, behind British Airways.

Bmi controls 11% of landing and take-off slots at the airport.

Lufthansa said it plans to complete the deal no earlier than January 12. It refused to confirm the amount it had paid for the extra 50% stake.

Speaking to analysts as the airline unveiled its third quarter results today, Lufthansa chairman and CEO Wolfgang Mayrhuber said: "Ahead of us lies a challenging and doubtlessly difficult time, which for various reasons can change the course of the entire industry as well as that of Lufthansa.

"We know that new challenges await us, daily. They only spur us on and we welcome them. We are equipped with a stable management, outstanding specialists and a service-oriented team, who work willingly and well with partners. That is Lufthansa attribute. "


With permission from Travelmole

So its now eventually happened, or perhaps better to say inevitably. I hope Sir Michael now enjoys his "retirement".

What this means to BMI and the Baby operations, the employees of BMI and the slots controlled at Heathrow remains to be seen.

The economic climate has probably dictated Sir Michaels decision, I just hope the BMI flag continues.

In terms of British Airlines this acquisition cannot be undermined and good luck to all connected with BMI.

Nivsy

BMI will cease operations from Manchester to Chicago in Jan 2009 and Vegas after Easter 2009.

Flights to the Carribean shall also stop and the Airbus 330's will transfer to heathrow to operate Egypt/Middle East operations.

Nivsy

I've been waiting to book my Vegas flights in January for travel in May.
luci

All the changes are on bmi's website. I'm not surprised they're pulling some routes, but to pull the whole long haul operation out of MAN is quite a shock. bmi have been performing quite well in recent years out of MAN. With rumours AA are reducing capacity on their Chicago flight (from a daily 767 to a 757) and BA dropping their daily JFK flight last month, flights across the pond from MAN are becoming a problem! Virgin will be happy though and no doubt step in and thrive on the Caribbean sectors where they competed. Looks like Lufthansa have made there first big decision.

Darren

They said it's for operational reasons as the routes weren't profitable. Well every flight we took to Vegas was packed.

luci

Packed airplane dont mean good revenue/yield returns luci.

Business class opportunity for the big payers utilising the A330 out of heathrow will bring in far more revenue for Lufthansa - oops I mean BMI!

Nivsy

Every flight I've been on with them were pretty full as well. Talking to the cabin crew on the way back from Antigua, there were 4 spare seats!! You aren't going to fill every flight, but if they can't make a profit from the loads they were getting, there's something wrong. They've already tried using the A332's out of LHR on middle eastern flights and they didn't work on some sectors. The LHR based aircraft has a different configuration to take account of the different market, and they are currently leasing 757's from Astraeus to cover other routes that I presume the A332's will now be utilised for as well as Caribbean rotations.

Darren

Also allows for the A330's to do more sectors out of LHR, reduces crew costs with less need for lay overs and the config of the A330's will change to increase the business class "experience".

Nivsy

If you have already booked a holiday to Vegas next year, can the TO transfer you from a Manchester to London flight without you having any say in the matter? Or are you entitled to cancel the whole package?

Thanks for any advise

SoozyC,

I think that would constitute a significant change to your booking so they'll either offer alternative flights, eg US Airways via Phildelphia or connections to Heathrow, or a full refund.

Darren

Thanks Dazbo - I knew you would know

I bet Virgin are rubbing their hands open book to Barbados from Manchester see the prices rise.

Just received an email from BMI Baby, they're having a sale on summer 09 flights and it's coming up quite a difference to when the flights were first released so if you haven't booked yet, might be worth checking them out

Hi, I wonder if someone can help clarify something for me??
I booked 2 adult economyfare saver seats from abdn to man return, for december, as connections to and from our holiday out of manchester.
I was just having a peep at BMI's baggage limits as no matter what our holiday package allows us to take we are restricted by our BMI flights, i wasn't sure if it was 15kg or 20kgs as it has been a year since we last flew with them.
Anyhow, from what i can gather you dont have a baggage allowance anymore and have to pay for each piece of luggage at time of booking??
Am i reading this wrong as it never used to be this way and your baggage alowance was included in your fare.
If anyone can clarify for me i would be very greatful!
Thanks,
katie.

Hi again. ok im silly!
I have just realised that i was looking at BMI baby's luggage details! We booked with BMI, so if im reading correctly this time our luggage allowance is 20kgs per person spread over a maximum of two bags each plus hand luggage upto 10kg per person, is that correct??
Thanks
Katie.

katielind,

You have to be careful when you check out your allowances that you look at the right one, bmi (mainline) or Bmi Baby as they are totally different. You are correct in saying your allowance when travelling on a domestic flight with bmi is 2 pieces, max total weight 20kg and one item of hand luggage.

Darren