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BMI forced to rethink long-haul fleet strategy
Flight International
UK carrier BMI is being forced to reconsider its long-haul fleet choices as it launches additional services to Saudi Arabia and looks at new routes.
BMI started services to the Saudi capital Riyadh in early September and expects to launch services to the kingdom’s commercial capital Jeddah early next year. The airline flies one of its three Airbus A330-200s on the three-times-weekly Riyadh route. The A330s also serve Mumbai on alternate days.
BMI chief executive Nigel Turner says the two markets require different configurations, with Saudi demand for business-class seating far higher than in the price-sensitive Indian market. Additionally, the carrier also serves points in the USA and Caribbean from Manchester, although it will terminate its Washington DC service at the end of the month.
BMI had already downgraded its Washington route to a leased Boeing 757 and could redeploy a second A330 to Heathrow, using the 757 for Manchester routes. BMI is understood to have cancelled an earlier option for a fourth A330 from Airbus, due to a lack of progress towards liberalisation on transatlantic routes from London.
From January BMI will increase Mumbai services to daily and the capacity shortfall will allow it to lease different aircraft types as it assesses future requirements. “We need at least one A330 next year, but there is a two-year waiting list for A330s, so we will explore the opportunities. We’re in talks with a number of carriers to provide lift for next year,” Turner says. The airline expects to lease a Boeing widebody for the routes until it orders aircraft next year, he adds.
BMI is also awaiting liberalisation of air services agreements to possibly launch services to Asia, Canada and South Africa, which will affect its long-term fleet strategy.
