Heathrow - Glasgow flights cut by half

British Midland is to drop in its entirety all services between Glasgow and Heathrow from the start of the summer season at the end of March.  It is a controversial move and leaves British Airways as the only carrier on the route although the Scottish city is also served by BA from Gatwick and London City, easyJet from Gatwick and Luton, and also Ryanair out of Stansted and to Prestwick.

BMI, which is owned by Germany’s Lufthansa, blamed a forthcoming increase in BAA passenger charges at Heathrow for making the loss-making route “unsustainable”.  The airport operator rejected the accusation, saying BMI was making a commercial choice to transfer slots to more profitable long haul routes.  At the same time BMI announced new routes from Heathrow to Bergen (a Heathrow first), Stavanger, Casablanca and Marrakech. 

Without direct competition it is suggested by business leaders in Scotland that fares will inevitably rise.  British Airways will also profit from all passengers arriving in T5, those connecting less likely to change to another carrier and therefore stay with BA for the onward flight. www.flybmi.com 

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