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BMI is more than doubling its fleet of long-haul aircraft as it prepares to launch its first services between London and the US.

The move into the lucrative transatlantic market from Heathrow will start in next spring, as BMI takes advantage of the “‘open skies’” agreement that was signed between the US and European Union (EU) earlier this year. The deal will allow European airlines for the first time to run transatlantic flights to any American city from any EU country, and not just their home country. In return, American carriers will have free access to European airports.

source: flightmapping.com

Richard Branson’s Virgin Atlantic said it remains interested in snapping up rival bmi, but a bmi spokeswoman reiterated on Friday that the carrier was not interested.

“‘We have always said we are interested in bmi and we will continue to look at it,'” Virgin Atlantic spokesman Paul Charles was quoted as saying in the Daily Telegraph. A spokeswoman for the airline confirmed the remark late on Thursday.

She said Virgin Atlantic — 51-percent-owned by Branson and 49-percent by Singapore Airlines — had repeatedly acknowledged an interest in bmi.

source: Reuters

British airline BMI is considering taking legal action if Britain blocks an open skies deal between the European Union and the US. EU transport ministers will vote on the treaty on March 22 and the transport secretary, Douglas Alexander, has already signalled government opposition to the draft agreement. He said last week that in its current form it favoured Washington and “‘there remains work to be done'”.

source: Guardian.co.uk

British air carrier bmi has begun twice daily service from London�??s Heathrow Airport to Moscow -Domodedovo International Airport. The flights are operated as a code-share deal between bmi and Transaero (Russia). Bmi will be responsible for one flight a day operating A-320 aircraft and the second flight will be under Transaero colours, using B737 aircraft.

source: Mice BTN