British Midland to operate non-stop service from Manchester to Antigua

Thursday, January 15, 2004

LONDON, England: British Midland Airways Limited (BMI), the UK's second largest full service airline, has announced its intention to operate non-stop services from Manchester to Antigua starting in November of this year.

According to Commercial Director for BMI Andrew Jansen, they are proposing to operate three or four weekly flight on a year round basis to Antigua and other destinations in the Lesser Antilles.

Antigua and Barbuda's High Commissioner to London, Sir Ronald Sanders, said "The London Office is giving every encouragement to British Midland to fly directly from Manchester to Antigua. We have long wanted a direct flight from the North of England which is a lucrative market."

Sir Ronald added that if British Midland decides to fly to Antigua, this will be a profitable route for the airline and the people of Antigua and Barbuda. "It will complement the excellent service we are getting from British Airways supported by Virgin Atlantic and BWIA," he said.

BMI has its main operational base at London Heathrow where it holds 14% of all take off and landing slots. The airline operates over 2,000 flights a week with a fleet of 41 jet aircraft, which have an average age of five years. BMI serves 28 destinations in 10 countries and in 2002 carried over seven and a half million passengers. More recently the airline received a maximum five star rating in the May 2002 edition of Business Traveller Magazine for its Manchester to Washington services.

Services to Antigua and other islands in the Caribbean would be operated by the 244 seater A330 aircraft with a three class configuration comprising of a first class style business style cabin; The Business, an enhanced economy service; The New Economy and an Economy Cabin.  

  Back...

  Most popular articles: viewed, printed and e-mailed

  Printable version