The bmibaby website currently states that: “Following the sale of bmi to International Airlines Group (IAG), we have now started a consultation period with our staff to review future options for the bmibaby business.”
It also announces that the last flights from Belfast City Airport to Alicante, Amsterdam, Birmingham, East Midlands, Faro, Ibiza, London Stansted, Malaga, and Palma will be on Saturday 9th or Sunday 10th June 2012, and carries the following Q&A:
“Why are you cancelling your services from and to Belfast City Airport? As a preliminary measure, the planned changes to our Belfast schedule have regrettably been made as a result of commercial and operational challenges. Belfast is in its first full year of operation, and still needs investment, and given the current situation we are unable to maintain the level of investment needed. We would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused.”
Meanwhile, Ryanair is offering bmibaby passengers who have had bookings from Belfast and Birmingham airports cancelled with ‘rescue fares’ from £29.99 one way to corresponding destinations on Ryanair flights to/from Derry, Dublin and East Midlands Airports. The fares are available until 20th May and are valid for travel from 11th June to 27th October 2012. Passengers will be required to bring their original bmibaby booking reference and itinerary for validation when they travel.
Ryanair says it has been working with International Airline Group to facilitate bmibaby passengers with bookings to/from Belfast and Birmingham on Ryanair flights from:
- Derry to/from: Alicante, Birmingham, Faro, Glasgow and London
- Dublin to/from: Alicante, Birmingham, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Eindhoven, Faro, Glasgow, Ibiza, London, Malaga and Palma.
- East Midland to/from: Knock
