The UK’s second largest full-service scheduled airline, bmi, has announced an accelerated programme to operate an all Airbus fleet by next year.

Firm orders have been made for four Airbus A319 short haul aircraft in a transition to a single aircraft fleet comprised of Airbus aircraft, and options are in place to order five additional aircraft within the next 18 months.

Sir Michael Bishop, bmi chairman, said: “The soft world market for aircraft has enabled us to make a significant step forward at beneficial prices to our Blue Sky project to reduce cost, improve operational efficiency and derive long term economic benefits from a single aircraft fleet type.”

The first three aircraft are scheduled for delivery within the next six months and will be available for the 2004 summer schedules commencing March 28, 2004. A fourth aircraft is scheduled to be delivered early in 2005.

Initially introduced on bmi services from London Heathrow to Brussels and subsequently on a range of bmi domestic and European routes from Heathrow, the aircraft will be configured with a maximum of 132 seats in a flexible business-economy cabin layout.

A spokesperson for bmi said: “The opportunity to bring forward the single fleet strategy has occurred due to the advantageous availability of these aircraft in the world market and a 25% increase in passengers carried by bmi during the first eight months of its current financial year.”

In 18 months time the airline will have a 28-strong fleet of Airbus aircraft both in its long haul and short haul main line operations.

The airline’s fleet of 13 Boeing 737s has already been transferred to bmi’s low-cost arm, bmibaby.

A member of Star Alliance, bmi currently operate more than 2,000 flights a week to 29 destinations in 10 countries.

(SP)