Bmi axes Business Class short-haul routes

class="alignright size-full wp-image-12555" title="© bmi" src="http://news.cheapflights.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/bmi-A320.jpg" alt="© bmi" width="261" height="173" /> href="http://www.cheapflights.co.uk/airlines/bmi/">Bmi has become the latest British carrier to rein in its premium offering by scrapping Business Class on all short-haul routes.

From 27 January, href="http://www.cheapflights.co.uk/airports/Heathrow/">Heathrow Airport’s second largest carrier will replace its premium perks with “enhanced service” for passengers travelling on Flexible Economy fares.

The benefits of booking one of the new fares include access to lounges, guaranteed seating at the front of the aircraft and complimentary food and drink on board the aircraft.

As part of the overhaul, Gold and Silver members of the bmi’s Diamond Club who have booked a regular Economy fare will no longer be offered free food and drink.

They will, however, earn double destinations miles on some routes, including all UK services to or from London Heathrow, as well as Heathrow flights to Dublin and Amsterdam.

Announcing the new measures, bmi managing director Dominic Paul said: “Customers travelling on our higher fares value business lounges, a seat at the front of the aircraft and complimentary food and drink, but most no longer have business class travel policies for short flight travel.”

He continued: “We have created a new service which delivers these important benefits, but on an all Economy aircraft, so they also benefit from a lower level of APD.”

Bmi’s move echoes cutbacks made by rival href="http://www.cheapflights.co.uk/airlines/British-Airways/">British Airways, which recently abolished meals on short-haul flights and rolled out new surcharges for Economy passengers. The belt-tightening comes after the airline industry suffered a disastrous 2009, losing £6.8 billion during the recession.

© Cheapflights Ltd (Image: bmi)