BMI Regional has forged its third codeshare partnership in a deal with Brussels Airlines on the East Midlands-Brussels route.
The agreement follows a similar deal with the Belgian carrier on the Newcastle-Brussels route and with Lufthansa from Bristol to Frankfurt and Munich.
The East Midlands codeshare enables passengers to combine BMI Regional’s service with Brussels Airlines destinations including New York; business hubs in Africa such as Cameroon, Rwanda, Uganda and Nairobi in Kenya; and European destinations such as Berlin, Geneva, Milan, Rome and Vienna.
BMI Regional chief executive Cathal O’Connell said: “Our latest codeshare agreement ensures that our customers from the East Midlands region now enjoy the convenience that comes with links to 52 countries served by Brussels Airlines.
“This new link will bring considerable commercial benefit to the region, not least making it easier for potential overseas investors and trade partners to visit, and our schedule allows business travellers to make return trips between the two airports in one day, ideal for meetings and conferences.
“The partnership also brings potential benefit to regional tourism centres including Nottingham, Sherwood Forest the Derbyshire Peak District.”
Brussels Airlines alliances manager Filip Puissant said: “We are delighted to add East Midlands to our growing European network thanks to this new extension of our partnership with BMI Regional.
“The direct flight serving East Midlands is good news for Brussels Airlines passengers and for travellers based in the region as the codeshare creates new travel opportunities via Brussels to and from many of our destinations in Europe, Africa and the USA.”