The 'FUTURE OF BMI' thread, the LH takeover, & what it might mean for Diamond Club...

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Jun 29, 2009, 11:05 am

#736

Rambuster

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Jun 2005

Location: Point Place, Wisconsin

Programs: LH HON, BA Gold, EK Gold

Posts: 14,505

Quote:

Originally Posted by IMH

In fairness, I think (from the original as well as from Rambuster's translation) that Mayrhuber is referring to bmibaby rather than slagging off BD.

I would interpret Mayrubers statement that they will be shutting down bmibaby.
With regards to VS, I am not sure if he is actually talking to SRB but perhaps to SQ ?

Jun 29, 2009, 11:09 am

#737

Traveloguy

Join Date: Jun 2002

Location: London, UK

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Posts: 8,156

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rambuster

I would interpret Mayrubers statement that they will be shutting down bmibaby.
With regards to VS, I am not sure if he is actually talking to SRB but perhaps to SQ ?

I doubt he is seriously talking to either and simply stating he is keeping all options open as any good CEO should do.

Great fodder for the papers though.

Jun 29, 2009, 11:14 am

#738

little_dc

Join Date: Dec 2007

Location: HNL

Posts: 588

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScottieFlyer

Hahaha, what a joke. From my own experience on LH European shorthall they are more like a low cost carrier than BD. Ancient 737s, overcrowded gates and disorderly boarding, aircraft leaving gates even before everybody is seated, gate problems on arrival at FRA, and snacks they should pay you to eat all spring to mind. Under LH I cannot see service on BD going anywhere but continuing downwards.

Really? LH still gives a Y passenger food on short flights and free alcoholic drinks, in economy. Some of the best lounges in Europe, a good deal of leg room on short flights, and the resources to deal with IROPS, without a cascading effect of low fare airlines. The times I have been on BMI, there was a fee for on board food, cramped leg room in Y, and delays and cancellations.

Jun 29, 2009, 11:22 am

#739

Traveloguy

Join Date: Jun 2002

Location: London, UK

Programs: BA Gold(OWE), QF LTG, MR Plat, IHG Spire, Hertz PC

Posts: 8,156

Quote:

Originally Posted by little_dc

You obviously have not been to the FRA SEN lounges which I think are pretty substandard for a major global hub. Yes the HON/FCT FRA lounges are amazing and the only lounges I know of that compare are the QF ones in SYD/MEL, but the rest of the airport is a hell hole. [MUC is nice however but I would still put BA's LHR J lounges ahead]

Agree on many of your other points however from a personal perspective, I prefer the LX seats as their design gives even more legroom than the LH ones.

Jul 1, 2009, 5:16 am

#740

NewbieRunner

Senior Moderator, Moderator: Community Buzz and Ambassador: Miles & More (Lufthansa, Austrian, Swiss, and other partners)

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Location: 150km from MAN

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Stefan Lauer appointed as Chairman of bmi's Board of Directors

Quote:

01.07.09
Stefan Lauer, CEO Group Airlines and Corporate Human Resources at Deutsche Lufthansa AG, has been appointed with effect from 1 July 2009 as Chairman of the Board of Directors of British Midland PLC (bmi). He will take over the position from Sir Michael Bishop who is leaving the Board.

Also Jörg Hennemann, Manager Hub Development and Capacity Management Frankfurt, has been appointed to the airline's Board. He will join CEO Nigel Turner and Deputy CEO Tim Bye as an additional Executive Director of the Company.

Altogether bmi's Board of Directors has six members: Stefan Lauer, Nigel Turner, Tim Bye, Jörg Hennemann, Dr. Holger Hätty and Benny Zakrisson.

Deutsche Lufthansa AG
Corporate Communications

http://konzern.lufthansa.com/en/html...07/937/HOM&s=0

So has anyone noticed anything tangibly different this morning? Will there be special food in LH SEN lounges to mark the occasion?

Jul 1, 2009, 5:58 am

#741

alanw

Join Date: Mar 2002

Location: BCN

Programs: BA Gold · A3 Gold · DL Gold · VY apologist

Posts: 8,545

Even though I know it's not true, I can't help but worry they're going to storm into LHR, close the lounges, shutter DC, repaint all the planes dull yellow with "GERM-O-FLOT" written on the sides and start 5GBP flights to Spain.

I just want them to leave DC alone.

Also give Joanna a raise.

Jul 1, 2009, 6:12 am

#742

ajamieson

Join Date: Aug 2001

Location: London. Edinburgh, Cornwall

Programs: BA GGL, British Midland Lifetime* Loser

Posts: 7,962

Quote:

Originally Posted by alanw

start 5GBP flights to Spain.

That LHR-BCN link you always wanted

Jul 1, 2009, 7:33 am

#743

sven60035

Join Date: Aug 2004

Location: Cork or Amsterdam

Programs: HH Gold, GHA Titanium, Iprefer Elite, EI Concierge

Posts: 666

Quote:

Originally Posted by alanw

I just want them to leave DC alone.

Also give Joanna a raise.

I actualy think they will go the opposite direction.

They will grab all slots and redistribute them within their group (if you read the a.m. article in the Sueddeutsche Zeitung you will note that he actualy says that he think the slots are the most valuable).

Than BMI will concentrate on being the fedder towards LH flights but they will stop behaving like a low cost carrier and become a full service airline again.

Than they are going to close DC down and make us Miles & More.

But that is just my opinon.

And, yes Joanna needs a raise!

Jul 1, 2009, 7:58 am

#744

DELLAS

Join Date: Jun 2006

Posts: 5,923

Quote:

Originally Posted by sven60035

Hi Sven, Long time no see

Good post and I have to say in all honesty I agree with what your saying. It makes the most sense.

Jul 1, 2009, 8:14 am

#745

GoldCircle

Join Date: Mar 2002

Location: DUB - Ireland

Programs: EI-GCE, BD-G, BA-G, A3*G, TK*G, FB-G, HH-G, Hyatt-Dia

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Agree too, but I don't see M&M in the near future. Too many market considerations for that to work well, as it did with LX.

Jul 1, 2009, 8:20 am

#746

Traveloguy

Join Date: Jun 2002

Location: London, UK

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Posts: 8,156

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoldCircle

Agree too, but I don't see M&M in the near future. Too many market considerations for that to work well, as it did with LX.

Although brand synergy wise it makes sense to merge sooner rather than later to get back end efficiencies. I'm still of the view that consolidation will occur within 12 months from today - i.e. The day LHBD took the effective 80% control and SMB out of the picture.

Jul 1, 2009, 9:25 am

#747

ScottieFlyer

Join Date: Mar 2009

Programs: UA, AA, BMI, MR, HH, PC

Posts: 806

Quote:

Originally Posted by sven60035

This could be good for UK-Euro shorthauls with greater frequencies between UK and *A hubs. However, it is bad news for UK regional residents who would be looking at 2xchange onto *A longhaul. I would prefer to see greater *A longhauls direct from LHR but I doubt that'll happen unless VS is brought into the fold. DC is clearly a gonner, just a question of when.

Jul 17, 2009, 11:37 pm

#748

totti

Join Date: Dec 2005

Programs: OW Emerald, *A Gold

Posts: 6,913

Today SZ (Sueddeutsche Zeitung - German newspaper) reports that LH wants to get rid of their BMI stakes as soon as possible. LH is analysing all possible options including a deal with VS or BA. BA doesn't have the financial power buy BD even though the author claims that BA is still interested. VS is not a real option as well because they want LH to remain a minority shareholder.

Honestly I don't think that is article is of any use because it is more or less or speculation and no information but I thought I may report here.

Have a nice weekend,
totti