bmi regional set to assume two Brussels Airlines' routes

Former bmi regional exec may acquire Stobart Air - report

Ian Woodley, an aviation advisor and former bmi regional (BM, Aberdeen Dyce) executive, is reportedly in talks to acquire Aer Lingus Regional operator Stobart Air (RE, Dublin Int'l), unnamed sources have told the Irish Independent.

Andy Jolly, managing director of Stobart Air, is also understood to be involved in the talks alongside Woodley, and a UK-based private equity firm would provide financing for a deal, according to the newspaper.

In May 2012, Woodley led Sector Aviation Holdings, an Aberdeen-based consortium, when it bought bmi regional from IAG International Airlines Group (IAG later bought Aer Lingus in September 2015). He remained chairman and co-shareholder of the regional carrier until 2016. bmi regional eventually ceased operations in February 2019. Woodley was also founder and co-chairman of Business Air (United Kingdom) (II, Aberdeen Dyce) from 1990 to 2000.

Jolly, meanwhile, was chief operating officer at Loganair (LM, Glasgow Int'l) between 2007 and 2011, then general manager of Hebridean Air Services (HBR, Cumbernauld) until 2015 when he became COO...

Loganair to move Derry PSO route from Stansted to Southend

The UK Department for Transport (DfT) has announced that it renewed the Public Service Obligation (PSO) contract with Loganair (LM, Glasgow Int'l) covering services between Londonderry in Northern Ireland and London. Flights will relocate from London Stansted to London Southend.

"London Southend is a highly convenient entry point to England's capital and the South East, serviced by its own dedicated train station only 100 steps away from the airport terminal," Managing Director Jonathan Hinkles said.

The Scottish regional specialist currently operates the route 13x weekly using E145 jets. The frequency will remain the same following the change of airports in London.

Loganair also operates from Londonderry to Glasgow Int'l (5x weekly) and Manchester Int'l (daily). Ryanair (FR, Dublin Int'l) is the only other operator serving the airport with flights to Edinburgh and Liverpool, the ch-aviation schedules module shows.

London Southend, which is owned by Stobart Group, already sees domestic services to Aberdeen Dyce, Carlisle, Glasgow, and Stornoway (all operated...

Scotland's Loganair ends Do328 operations

Loganair (LM, Glasgow Int'l) made its final Do328-100 commercial flight last week, drawing to a close 24 years of Fairchild Dornier turboprop operations.

According to Flightradar24 ADS-B data, G-BYHG (msn 3098) carried out its last commercial flight on April 17 as LM308 Edinburgh-Norwich. The ch-aviation fleets module shows the Scottish airline has operated a total of five Do328s, of which two are now in service for MHS Aviation (Germany) (M2, Munich).

The move is part of Loganair's fleet renewal and type consolidation plan.

Following the collapse of flybmi (BM, Aberdeen Dyce) in February, Loganair has assumed multiple aircraft from its former sister carrier and fellow Airline Investments Limited subsidiary.

Loganair adopted part of flybmi's Embraer fleet, so that it now operates a total of thirteen E145s and four E135s, as well as four Saab 2000s, twelve Saab 340Bs, one DHC-6-300, two -400s, two S340A(QC)s, two Saab 340(F)s, and two BN-2s.

Rostock to regain scheduled flights with Lufthansa in 2Q19