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By: - 11th July 2006 at 16:49 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
If it were to be two daily services, then this particular A320 wouldn't have time to operate a Manchester service from Heathrow as well. In fact, how can they only have one dedicated A320 for the route? With a flying time of just about 4 hours each way then including turnaround times, even if the first flight left at 6:00am for Moscow, it would not be able to complete the two return trips and be back before Heathrow shuts down for the night.
By: - 11th July 2006 at 16:58 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
This has been in the pipeline for some time, and raises some interesting points now that the details of what bmi intend to offer are starting to emerge.
Having a single aircraft (if that is the plan) in a unique config for one route is always going to raise problems. What to do with it when not operating that route, what to do when it goes tech, etc...
bmi are adding yet another level of service to an already confused set of products. Regional, business class european, low cost mainline, business class longhaul, economy longhaul, low cost baby, and now mediumhaul business. What next?
Do bmi really want to work with UN or is this just a means to an end?
An extra 2 daily flights does not double the frequency on the route, as BA offer 2 or 3 flights depending on the day, and SU offer 2 flights per day.
It will be interesting to see how (if at all) BA respond. DME is easily BA's most profitable shorthaul route. It has beeen crying out for some time for a longhaul product, as customers don't like the shorthaul seating for such a long flight. However this means more or less fixing the number of Club seats available, which isn't sensible on a route that sees the Club load vary from 15 to 140. So who will win? The Product and Brands people or the Commercial people?
Personally I'd like to see DME (and for that matter IST, ATH & LCA) operated by longhaul configured 767s, with frequency increased to keep capacity up and prices increased to reflect the improved service.
1L.
By: - 11th July 2006 at 17:04 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
If it were to be two daily services, then this particular A320 wouldn't have time to operate a Manchester service from Heathrow as well. In fact, how can they only have one dedicated A320 for the route? With a flying time of just about 4 hours each way then including turnaround times, even if the first flight left at 6:00am for Moscow, it would not be able to complete the two return trips and be back before Heathrow shuts down for the night.
As I read it the approval is for 14 flights per week divided between BD and UN, ie: each operating 1 daily service. I'm happy to be corrected though.
1L.
By: - 11th July 2006 at 17:29 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
What if the aircraft was based in Moscow and operated DME-LHR-DME-LHR-DME? Taking into account the time difference I'd say the aircraft could leave Moscow early in the morning and arrive into Heathrow in time for the BD891. Similar situation with the return, leaving Heathrow after the arrival of the BD894. But this is still only a possibility if they announce a double daily service.
By: - 12th July 2006 at 16:36 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
What if the aircraft was based in Moscow and operated DME-LHR-DME-LHR-DME? Taking into account the time difference I'd say the aircraft could leave Moscow early in the morning and arrive into Heathrow in time for the BD891. Similar situation with the return, leaving Heathrow after the arrival of the BD894. But this is still only a possibility if they announce a double daily service.
But like OneLeft has pointed out, bmi will only operate one flight per day.
Posts: 169
By: RhysD - 11th July 2006 at 13:08
Press Release
What do members make of this service? It seems they're planning on configuring a dedicated A320 to exclusively operate the service. If that is the case, surely an extra domestic rotation could be added before and after the Moscow run such as MAN-LHR-DME-LHR-MAN or the like. But will this be possible if the aircraft has a varied configuration to the remainder of the fleet. Any suggestions?