Since being offloaded by International Airlines Group for £8 million to Sector Aviation Holdings, owned by Stephen and Peter Bond, who also own Scotland's Loganair, the regional airline is being refocused on its core home market and it is paying dividends. In an interview in UK newspaper, The Daily Telegraph, chief executive Cathal O'Connell explains how the airline was restructured while keeping flying.
One year on from its sale, BMI Regional has added 12 new routes, opened new bases in Bristol and Birmingham, created 100 new jobs and carried more than 500,000 passengers.
Unshackled from its previous role as a feeder airline for Star Alliance, standalone Bmi Regional has succeeded in building its own network – the latest new route was launched last week from Birmingham to Billund, Denmark. The carrier now operates 23 routes using 14 49-seat Embraers and four 37-seaters.
The business is reported to be on target for reaching a breakeven point by April 2014.
Bright future for BMI Regional
