A BMI British Midland Airbus A330-200 will take off from Manchester for Washington on 12 May, returning the company to North Atlantic routes after a gap of nearly 17 years. The airline last operated between the UK and the USA on a charter basis, with Boeing 707s in October 1984.
The Washington DC service will be flown six times a week, and is destined to be followed by a daily Chicago service on 8 June, both to be flown by new Airbus A330-200s, ordered in a $1.2 billion deal in February last year. The first three will be delivered in May, and the fourth early next year. Another eight are on option.
The A330s, operated in a three-class cabin covering business, full economy and economy, will be competing with Oneworld alliance member American Airlines on the Chicago route.
Atlanta, New York, Orlando and Philadelphia are served from Manchester - the Orlando service having been started last week by Virgin Atlantic using Boeing 747s.
The Manchester connections are a consolation for the Star Alliance member since the UK and USA failed to agree on new air services, scuppering plans to fly to US destinations from its main base at London Heathrow. The airline still intends to pursue the plans.
Source: Flight International
