Web sales boost bmibaby carryings

More than 90% of bookings for no-frills carrier bmibaby in January came through its website, latest figures show. The budget off-shoot of BMI achieved a record of almost 500,000 bookings during the month – the largest monthly total in the airline’s two year history. Booking levels were up by 25% over January 2003, according to the airline. Bmibaby’s passenger growth contributed to a 15% year-on-year rise in BMI group carryings in January to 693,689. The budget airline saw passenger numbers rise by 53% to 204,447 while BMI saw a more modest increase of 4% to 489,242, including long haul and regional routes. The figures emerged as bmibaby prepares for expansion from Teesside with 40 flights a week to seven destinations this summer, a new Manchester-Knock service from March 28 and the start of Prague and Cork flights from Gatwick from 30 April. Meanwhile, BMI is to add a third transatlantic route with flights from Manchester to Toronto in co-operation with Air Canada starting on 25 April to complement Chicago and Washington services.