bmi is to launch its first scheduled service flights from Edinburgh to Stornoway, in the Western Isles, with a daily direct service from 28 October 2002.  Operated on a 49 seat Embraer jet aircraft, offering both business and economy class travel, the new direct service will cut the existing journey time down to under one hour.

In addition to the improved jet services, significantly cutting journey times, passengers will also benefit from the recently introduced one way fare structure adopted by the airline.  This enables passengers to choose from the lowest available fare on each leg of their journey, without being inhibited by minimum stay requirements, such as the restrictive “Saturday night stopover”.  Internet fares will start from just £50.30 one way in economy, including all taxes and charges.

The addition of Stornoway to the bmi network brings the number of Scottish Airports served by the airline to four and provides further confirmation of bmi’s commitment to the Scottish economy.  From the winter, bmi will provide direct jet service links to seven airports from Edinburgh, with services to Manchester connecting to America and services to London Heathrow offering an infinite number of onward destinations both on bmi and its partner airlines at Star Alliance.

Alex Grant, director network planning, revenue management and regional commercial said:

“The launch of this new route is a clear indication of our commitment to developing quality jet services within Scotland and indeed the rest of the UK.  From 28 October, bmi’s regional network will serve 14 airports with over 400 flights a week, with this new addition complementing our existing route portfolio.

“We have every confidence that our direct non stop service will appeal to travellers and will make a valuable contribution to the economic growth and development of areas serviced by both airports.”

Bob Macleod, managing director of Highlands and Islands Airports Limited said:

“The new bmi direct daily service linking Stornoway and Edinburgh is a historic development in passenger services to the Western Isles.  It is the first passenger jet service to the islands, the first direct weekday air link between the islands and the Scottish capital and the first time bmi has operated out of one of our 10 regional airports.

“This service will undoubtedly give the Western Isles a significant economic boost in terms of both business and tourism travel. The low cost fares without minimum stay requirements will also ensure that the service receives a high level of interest from local communities when it starts operating in October.”

Services between Edinburgh and Stornoway will be operated by bmi regional, a wholly owned subsidiary of bmi, the UK’s second largest full service scheduled airline and the only regional airline in the UK to offer its customers the comfort and speed of an all jet fleet.  In addition, the bmi regional Embraer fleet has an average age of under 2 years.

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