BMIBABY
has confirmed it will launch a bookable trade website and allow agents to
reserve fares via a GDS as part of its campaign to woo the trade.
As
exclusively revealed in Travel Weekly, the budget airline is keen to build
bridges with the trade because it views agents as a major tool in the low-cost
battle it predicts will develop with EasyJet.
Bmibaby’s
move is unique as rivals such as EasyJet and Ryanair openly view the trade with
suspicion.
The
BMI subsidiary has also promised not to solicit direct business with corporate
accounts and has expressed a willingness to enter into contracts with tour
operators.
Managing
director Tony Davis said: “The relationship between the low-costs and the trade
has been strained, but the BMI Group has a long relationship of working with
travel agents and we believe there is a way of working with them without
increasing our cost base.”
Other
initiatives include allocated seats, a hand-baggage allowance of up to 5kg plus
a laptop and a hand-baggage check-in facility, which Davis expects will help
attract business travellers.
He
said: “There are a lot of people wearing ties on our flights, but we want more.
Our slot times and on-board service are geared towards business travellers.”
Bmibaby
will launch 22 routes on October 27, many of which have been transferred from
parent BMI at East Midlands, bringing its total route network to 31.
Cork
and Jersey are the latest routes the airline has confirmed it will service from
this winter.
The carrier is planning a multi-million pound
advertising campaign, covering television, radio and national newspapers, to
promote the new routes.