Brussels Airlines in new partnership with bmi

[sn26567]

Three new destinations in the UK

A new partnership deal with the British carrier bmi, will allow Brussels Airlines to add a further 3 destinations to its passenger offer: Edinburgh, Leeds Bradford and East Midlands. In total, Brussels Airlines now offers daily flights to no less than 9 destinations in Great Britain.

Thanks to this partnership agreement, Brussels Airlines and bmi will have a joint commercial offer that comprises all of their flights to and from both airlines’ regional destinations in the UK. Brussels Airlines will therefore sell the 3 daily flights operated by bmi between Brussels Airport et Edinburgh, Leeds Bradford and East Midlands, while bmi will include in its daily offer flights operated by Brussels Airlines between the capital of Europe and Birmingham, Manchester, Bristol and Newcastle. All flights will carry both companies’ codes ('SN' et 'BD').

Entering into force on 26 October, the codeshare will allow Brussels Airlines to offer its customers a total of 9 destinations in the United Kingdom, which means nearly 300 flights per week between Belgium and Great Britain. No other carrier can offer as many flights as this joint Brussels Airlines/bmi offer. The important Midlands region will, for example, benefit from service to two airports (Birmingham and East Midlands) while, for the first time, Edinburgh will be available to Brussels Airlines customers as the principal entry port into Scotland.

This offer also gives extensive possibilities for passengers travelling from the UK to easily connect to the Brussels Airlines networks in Europe, Africa and India. With nine departure point from the UK, the combinations via Brussels are almost endless; for example Edinburgh-Brussels-Nairobi; Leeds-Brussels-Delhi; East Midlands-Brussels-Bilbao.

And of course, members of the loyalty programme Privilege will benefit equally from the Brussels Airlines/bmi collaboration – with the possibility of earning miles on every flight from the UK to Brussels and beyond.

“We’re very happy with this important new partnership, which will allow us to consolidate and extend our presence in the UK market, with the addition of 3 new destinations”, said Erik Follet, EVP Strategy & Business Development de Brussels Airlines. “It’s a win/win agreement which will mean an increased service both for business and leisure passengers flying Brussels Airlines and bmi.”

Brussels Airlines press release, Brussels 14th October 2008

[sn26567]

Not a word about the London (Heathrow and Gatwick) routes. I guess that they remain codeshared with Bristish Airways?

It is also not clear whether the codeshare agreement with Flybe. will remain in force for the route flown exclusively by Flybe., e.g. Southampton. I guess that for Manchester Flybe. will no longer codeshare its flights with SN.

[ihd-fc]

The Flybe codeshare will -as already announced two months ago- stop soon on all routes.

Greetings

[outofafrica]

Why is SN not code sharing with BD to LHR, BD's main base in the UK. This does not make any sence at all.