Rise in passenger numbers for BMI

Airline bmi, formerly British Midland Airways, carried 789,624 passengers last month – a 22% increase on its May 2002 total, it was announced today.

A record 253,000 passengers travelled on the airline’s budget carrier, bmibaby, which is now on target to carry three million passengers during 2003.

Bmi routes that saw big increases in passenger numbers last month included London to Palma in Majorca (up 47%), London-Manchester (up 27%) and London-Brussels and London-Belfast City (both up 22%).

“The overall increase in passengers in May compared to last year is very encouraging,” said bmi chief executive Austin Reid.