bmi submits tender for three Irish routes

bmi regional has today confirmed that it has submitted a tender to the Department of Transport to operate three Irish domestic routes.

The routes are Kerry-Dublin (currently operated by Aer Arann), Derry-Dublin (currently operated by Logan Air) and Knock-Dublin (currently operated by Aer Arann).

The company aims to start operating the routes on July 22, 2005, for three years.

The firms said there may be an option for to also operate a direct Kerry-London Heathrow service daily.

Crawford Rix, managing director – bmi regional said: "bmi already has a strong presence in the Irish marketplace, through our successful Dublin-London Heathrow service. At bmi regional, we also operate on the Cork-Leeds Bradford route.

"If successful in this tender, we would significantly expand our regional service offering, both in the wider bmi network, but particularly in Ireland. In addition, there may also be the opportunity for bmi in the future to offer a direct service from Kerry to London Heathrow, a significant development for that region."

bmi, which operates up to seven return flights daily on the Dublin-London Heathrow route, first entered the Irish marketplace in 1989.

bmi recently announced that it is launching a four times weekly long haul service from Dublin, via London Heathrow, to Mumbai in India, with services commencing from May 14, 2005.

This will be followed shortly afterwards with the launch of a three times weekly service to Riyadh.

bmi also recently launched a range of new services for Irish passengers including self-service check-in at Dublin airport and a dedicated website for the Republic of Ireland.