There was more bad news in the airline sector on Thursday as UK carrier bmi reported a pre-tax loss of almost £20million, the airline’s first loss for ten years.
The group recorded a pre tax loss of £19.6 million for 2002 against a pre tax profit of £12.4 million the previous year.
While passenger numbers increased by 11.9% to 7.5million, this was down to the launch of its no-frills arm bmibaby. The low cost airline carried over 700,000 passengers in its first nine months of operation to December 2002.
bmi chairman Sir Michael Bishop said: “2003 promises to be another tough year for the airline industry. However, the very recent signs of a slight upturn in confidence and bookings following the latest developments in Iraq may provide the prospect of a return to a more stable operating environment in the second half of the year. “
Mr Bishop added that the airline would continue to fight to be able to fly transatlantic services from Heathrow.
