V-Flyer

Details
MAN- LHR four daily flights axed midweek, one daily axed at weekend
EDI - LHR two daily flights lost, inc. weekends.

BA on the other hand are maintaining their domestic winter schedules (Manchester loses one flight a day).

Mind you, they did the painful axing years ago with INV, BFS and DUB going.

And BA is increasing frequency on some days on these routes, so its not that the custom isn't there, I see that as BMI simply losing ground. No wonder LH want to sell it off, there really will be nothing left but slots soon.

I'd love to know how much of the domestic traffic into LHR and LGW are purely for connections to longhaul flights.

I use LCY a lot for GLA/EDI, and it's by far the best way rather than LHR/LGW.

In summary, I have a suspicion that most of the domestics into the big hubs are for connections, and would therefore be prime targets for ownship by longhaul operators.

I further suspect that the purely domestic market will focus on LCY, and other smaller, more acessible airports.

Just why BMI are lossing ground, I think it's as simple as a company loosing it's direction and not having a clear strategy...

I predicted the downfall of BMI once they stopped operations to the US. I used to love their A330's into LHR from ORD.

I really hope the brand isn't lost, because I simply love BMI's easy-going atmosphere in the cabin, brown and blue color scheme, and the great (and beautiful) cabin crew.