Bmi cuts out frills on Heathrow services

Bmi – formerly British Midland Airways – is to turn most of its Heathrow services into a low-cost airline operation, it was announced today.

The carrier is scrapping business class on all but four of its 17 short-haul Heathrow routes and introducing low fares and charging for on-board food.

Bmi said it was making the changes following a six-month study surveying the views of 10,000 air travellers.

A separate business class will remain on four routes – Heathrow to Glasgow, Edinburgh, Belfast City and Brussels.

Nigel Turner, bmi’s chief executive, said: “For the last three years we have faced two fundamental issues. More than half of our passengers travel on business – but most of them do so in the rear of the aircraft. They or their companies choose to travel in economy.

“We’re getting back in sync with what our customers want. We’re giving them the choice. They can choose what they want – and what they want to pay for - when they travel.”

The Heathrow operation will run along the lines of the company’s budget airline - bmibaby.