BMI Regional axes two Manchester routes

AIRLINE BMI Regional is cutting back on its operations from Manchester a year after its launch.

The independent carrier is closing its crew bases in Manchester, Birmingham and Edinburgh after an operational review.

A total of five routes will be scrapped, between November and January. The decision to pull out of the bases will leave just Aberdeen and Bristol as its  main hubs. Its Aberdeen to Manchester route will continue but will be crewed from the Scottish city.

The routes affected are: Manchester to Edinburgh and Antwerp; Birmingham to Billund; and Edinburgh to Copenhagen and Brussels.

A spokesman for BMI Regional said: “Following a comprehensive review of our network, BMI Regional has announced the closure of five routes. BMI Regional is to focus on routes elsewhere in Scotland and in other parts of the UK and Europe.

“As a result, our crew bases in Birmingham, Edinburgh and Manchester will close. We have started consultations with affected employees, including the opportunity to move to one of our other crew bases.

“We would like to reassure all customers booked to fly with us on the affected routes that services will operate up to the termination date – 29 November for Manchester, 31 December for Billund and 5 January for Edinburgh to Copenhagen and Brussels.

“We will be in contact with passengers booked beyond these dates to offer alternative arrangements or refund.”

The business was born out of BMI in May last year, after the larger airline was taken over by British Airways owner IAG. BMI Regional, which operates 18 Embraer jets on scheduled services as well as leasing and charter contracts in the UK and Europe, was bought for £8m by Sector Aviation Holdings (SAH) last year.