Low cost carrier bmibaby is to pull out of Manchester and Cardiff airports at the end of this summer and focus on expanding at other UK regional airports instead.
Managing director Julian Carr said: "In the current economic climate it is essential for bmibaby to focus on airports where the airline already has a strong market presence and where are strong growth opportunities for the bmibaby business."
Sister airline bmi, British Midland International will keep a significant presence at Manchester Airport and recently announced a new service to Frankfurt, operated on behalf of Lufthansa, and a new flight to Basel. In addition bmi regional operates services from Manchester to Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Lyon.
Bmibaby will switch two aircraft to Belfast City Airport, from where it will offer seven new routes for summer 2012 to Malaga, Alicante, Palma, Faro and Ibiza, plus a new year- round service to Amsterdam and new ski flights to Geneva.
The airline will also expand at East Midlands and Birmingham, placing an additional aircraft at each one. It will offer two new ski from East Midlands to Toulouse and Chambery this winter. New routes for summer 2012 from Birmingham and East Midlands will be announced soon, said the airline.
By Linsey McNeill
