UK low-cost carrier Bmibaby slashes routes

Bmibaby, the low-cost carrier of Heathrow-based BMI, announced November 4 that it will dramatically cut routes, aircraft and personnel due to the prolonged recession in the air industry.

BMI Baby, which recently cut routes between Manchester, England and Alicante and Malaga in Spain, did not specify which routes would be axed. The company will cut its total number of aircraft by nearly 30 percent in 2010, as well as a significant number of staff.

The airline operates flights around Europe from its four hubs in England: Birmingham, Cardiff, East Midlands and Manchester.

German air giant Lufthansa owns parent company BMI, which it recently took off the sales block after not finding any suitable bidders.

Earlier this month, BMI Baby announced a tie-in with Lufthansa's own low-cost carrier, Germanwings, which allows passengers to book tickets on both airlines through the same website.

www.bmibaby.com