![[logo] Cardiff international Airport](/gfx/gfx_cwl_logo.gif){kind=logo}
bmibaby opens for BUSINESS
26 February 2007
Airline announces radical new business passenger initiative. Passengers have the option to select from a range of business tailored products and only pay for what they need. Business passengers can now earn miles on bmi Diamond Club Reward Scheme and redeem worldwide across the Star Alliance network. Fares unchanged starting from just £16.99 one way, all in.
bmibaby, the award winning airline with tiny fares has today (1st March 2007) announced that it is 'Open for Business' with the launch of a radical new set of services specifically tailored for the demanding needs of today's business traveller.
Recognising that each business traveller has different requirements, the airline has introduced the concept of 'only choose what you need' to business air travel and expects this to transform the way people in South Wales choose to travel on business. Passengers can now select from a range of services which they require for each specific trip, many of these will be complimentary and for other services there will be a small charge.
In addition, the airline is also offering business passengers the opportunity to join one of the world's most generous airline reward scheme, bmi Diamond Club and earn miles every time they book a flight on bmibaby which can then be redeemed on over 1000 destinations worldwide through bmi Diamond Club's membership of the Star Alliance network.
The range of services that bmibaby will now offer include:
- Flexible flights. Business passengers, on the day of travel, can choose to catch an earlier return flight than the one they originally booked providing there is seat availability for no extra cost. Travellers can also, on the day of travel, choose to catch a later return flight than the one they originally booked providing there is seat availability for a one off total fee of £35.00.
- On line check in. All business passengers, for no extra cost, can avoid the need to queue up at check in and speed through to departures by using bmibaby's new on line check in facility.
- Access to a number of executive lounges. Business passengers booking a flight on bmibaby will have the option to access executive lounges at airports throughout the UK and Europe for a fee of £15 per visit.
- Guaranteed seat being reserved at time of booking. All business passengers can travel safe in the knowledge that a seat will be reserved for them at the time of booking for a fee of £3.50 per flight.
- No restriction on cabin baggage weight. All business passengers will benefit from unlimited weight restriction on their one allowed item of hand baggage providing they can lift it, unaided, into the overhead lockers on board.
Lead in fares on bmibaby's key domestic routes from Cardiff International continue to start from just £18.99 one way, including taxes and charges. A business passenger choosing to travel from Cardiff to Belfast International and only requiring early return flight flexibility and lounge access now has the choice of paying £33.99 on bmibaby (£18.99 fare +£15 lounge access, early flexibility is free) or choose to spend over £176.99 per one way trip with an alternative carrier for a range of services that they are unlikely to use; a massive £143.00 difference.
Launching the initiative today, Crawford Rix, managing director, bmibaby, said:"The launch of bmibaby's new business initiative will transform the way people in South Wales choose to conduct business trips by air. Our new 'only choose what you need' approach allows business travellers to select only the services they want to use.
"From the 1st March all passengers booking a flight on bmibaby will be able to benefit from flexible flights, on line check in, executive lounge access, unlimited cabin baggage allowance and the reassurance of knowing that a seat will be reserved for them.
"In addition, passengers will also be able to earn miles on bmi Diamond Club and redeem these worldwide across over 1000 destinations through bmi Diamond Club's membership of the Star Alliance network.
"bmibaby will continue to invest in its network and service from Cardiff International airport. We announced last month that we were retiming our first flight of the day to Belfast International to a more business friendly departure time of 7am and have further plans in the pipeline. Fares continue to be priced aggressively starting from just £16.99 one way, including taxes."
Commenting on the announcement, Jon Horne, managing director, Cardiff International Airport, said: "I very much welcome the new options available to passengers, which I think will have great appeal. Price, flexibility and choice are key components sought by the business traveller and these are now all on offer from Cardiff International under this new business initiative."
bmibaby flies from Cardiff International to 11 European
destinations and operates 66 flights per week from and to Cardiff
International to key business destinations such as Belfast,
Edinburgh and Glasgow.
![[logo] Fivesite.co.uk](/gfx/gfx_logo_fivesite.gif){kind=logo}
