IGNORE

BMI is aiming to capture a share of leisure long haul business with the launch of its first flights to the Caribbean. The airline plans to start serving three destinations in the winter from Manchester – Barbados, Antigua and St Lucia. Twice weekly flights to Barbados are launched on 26 November, a weekly service to Antigua on 27 November and St Lucia on 1 December. Return fares to all three destinations start at £449. BMI will pitch itself against Caribbean carrier BWIA which serves Barbados from Manchester. The new routes will also provide increased competition to British Airways and Virgin Atlantic on UK-Caribbean routes. The move marks a significant departure for the airline which has long held ambitions to start transatlantic flights from Heathrow but has been frustrated by regulations preventing new entrants on routes to the US. BMI’s existing long haul routes are from Manchester to Chicago and Washington DC, to be joined by Manchester-Toronto in co-operation with Air Canada on 25 April. The new winter flights have been timed to offer connections to other Caribbean islands such as the British Virgin Islands, St Kitts, Tobago, Grenada, St Vincent and the Grenadines. BMI will offer a three-class service – business, new economy and economy – on the flights, which are subject to formal government approval from the three Caribbean destinations. BMI chief executive Austin Reid said: “Passengers now have no need to travel to London and onto the Caribbean services of those carriers showing little appetite or commitment to the important UK regions. Manchester’s hub status is also set to increase as our new services have been timed specifically to provide travellers to and from Scotland – and Heathrow – with convenient connections.” The expansion as unveiled as the carrier reported increased February passenger carryings. BMI’s mainline long haul and regional operations flew 20% more passengers year on year at 536,780 while no-frills offshoot bmibaby saw a 48% rise to 238,440. Report by Phil Davies