bmibaby set to serve even more European destinations in 2002
bmibaby, the midlands own low cost airline - launched just two months ago - will serve 15 international destinations in 2002, exceeding the number of international destinations served by easyJet from London Luton.
bmibaby has already announced three additional exciting new destinations for the autumn (Alicante - Munich - Geneva) adding to the nine it launched this summer. This will now increase again with the announcement today that another three major European cities will be served this year. For the winter timetable, bmibaby will add Lyon, Copenhagen and Milan to its impressive list of destinations.
As well as more destinations, bmibaby will increase Prague frequencies to a daily service (except Saturday) - up from five times per week - as well as adding even more seats for sale through the introduction of larger aircraft. This gives travellers an extra 18,616 seats available for sale and raises capacity by a massive 68% during the winter period to Prague.
To accommodate this major increase in capacity and the launching of new routes, the bmibaby fleet will increase to four aircraft based at East Midlands Airport. Further aircraft will be added with the announcement shortly of a new UK base to be set up later this year following a review of proposals from a number of key airports. The scope of the airline means that bmibaby is growing at an incredible rate with passenger numbers expected to top two million in 2003.
Tony Davis, managing director of bmibaby said:
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“bmibaby is clearly meeting the pent up demand that the midlands and south Yorkshire have had for their very own low cost airline. Customers can take advantage of low cost fares as well as all the benefits and convenience of using a local friendly airport that does not involve a lengthy and time consuming journey to the south of England.
“I am really pleased that we have been able to serve so many destinations in 2002 and I am extremely excited about bmibaby setting up another UK base. All the signs are that bmibaby is rapidly becoming a major force in low cost travel in the UK. bmibaby is not going away and we will continue to build upon our immediate success to develop a truly international hub at East Midlands Airport.
“The support we are getting from passengers is tremendous and I really must thank them for the support that they have given us. The fact that we are exceeding the scope of international destinations of our UK competitors in such a short time is proof indeed that we are meeting the needs of travellers for new and exciting routes.
“We are committed to providing the travelling public with choice and despite the actions of our main UK competitors, there will be no reduction in the amount of competition bmibaby brings to the low cost sector. We are determined to ensure that consumers always have the benefit of choice and are confident that bmibaby will go from strength to strength.”
ends notes: 1. bmibaby 2002 destinations are Alicante, Barcelona, Copenhagen, Dublin, Faro, Geneva, Ibiza, Lyon, Malaga, Milan, Munich, Murcia, Nice, Palma and Prague. 2. bmibaby launched services to Malaga on 20 March, Prague on 22 March and Barcelona, Dublin, Faro, Murcia, Nice and Palma on 23 March. Services to Ibiza will commence on 15 May with all remaining routes launching during the winter timetable. 3. In 2002 bmibaby will operate to the following countries: Czech Republic - Prague, Denmark - Copenhagen, France - Lyon and Nice, Germany - Munich, Italy - Milan Portugal - Faro, Republic of Ireland - Dublin, Spain - Alicante, Barcelona, Ibiza, Malaga, Murcia and Palma and Switzerland - Geneva
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