BMI axes 'unsustainable' route

BMI announced today that it is suspending flights between Glasgow and Heathrow.

The airline said “a number of employees” are at risk of redundancy following the decision to withdraw its seven daily flights from March 27.

The firm blamed an increase in BAA charges for domestic passengers, which it said makes the loss-making route “unsustainable”.

Coupled with the cost of an additional regulator fee, the airline said the charges being imposed on it have risen from £13 (€15) per passenger to £22 (€25.50).

BMI said domestic passengers are being charged the same as international passengers and lodged a complaint against BAA, alleging “discrimination”.

In a statement, BMI added: “Unfortunately due to the suspension of the Glasgow route a number of employees at Glasgow will be at risk of redundancy.

“The company has today commenced a 30-day formal consultation process with employees and the relevant unions to try and reduce the number of redundancies as much as possible, and will offer a large number of redeployment options within BMI.”

BMI said it is “committed” to Scotland and will continue to focus on Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Belfast City airports, each operating six times a day.

A “stronger focus” will be put on international routes. The decision to suspend the route coincides with the announcement of new routes from Heathrow to Bergen and Stavanger in Norway, and to Casablanca and Marrakech in Morocco for summer.

Scottish Secretary Michael Moore said: “Today’s news from BMI is obviously very disappointing for Glasgow. In my discussions with the chief executive it has been clear that this commercial decision has been taken reluctantly, based on underlying issues on the route. The route does not appear to have been commercially viable for BMI for some time.

“In my discussions with BMI’s Wolfgang Prock-Schauer, he has understood my concerns about the importance of air links for Scottish cities, businesses and individuals. I appreciate that the decision has not been taken lightly.

“Mr Prock-Schauer has said that BMI will be able to look at the route again in the future and we all hope it will be possible to re-establish the flights.”