Charlotte to get Heathrow flight?
STEVE HARRISON
[email protected]
BMI, the second-largest airline in the United Kingdom, is considering flying to Charlotte now that it can fly to the United States from London's Heathrow Airport.
In a story in the British newspaper The Observer over the weekend, BMI chief executive Nigel Turner said the airline wants to start U.S. service from Heathrow, possibly to Chicago, New York and Charlotte. Charlotte would be attractive because BMI is a member of the Star Alliance, which would allow its passengers to use the US Airways hub here to connect to destinations throughout the U.S. Tim Bye, BMI's deputy chief executive, said in an e-mail to The Charlotte Observer that a decision could come next month. He said it was premature to say what cities the airline is considering, but cities with Star Alliance hubs would be attractive.
Chicago is the home base of United Airlines, which is also a Star Alliance member.
Charlotte today has non-stop service to London on US Airways. But that flight is to Gatwick airport, which is farther from the city. Heathrow is considered a more attractive airport, especially for business travelers.
Flights from Heathrow to the U.S. have been restricted, with only British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, American Airlines and United allowed. But recent approval of the new "open skies" agreement -- which will go into effect next spring -- will allow open access to Heathrow, so long as U.S. carriers can acquire landing slots.
US Airways president Scott Kirby said earlier this month that US Airways would be interested in flying to Heathrow. But analysts believe that the airline would initially from there fly Philadelphia, which is the airline's major international hub.
BMI has more than 10 percent of the slots at Heathrow, though many are used for domestic flights inside the United Kingdom.
BMI's only U.S. service today is to Chicago and Las Vegas from Manchester.
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Read tomorrow's Charlotte Observer for more details on this story.
STEVE HARRISON
[email protected]
BMI, the second-largest airline in the United Kingdom, is considering flying to Charlotte now that it can fly to the United States from London's Heathrow Airport.
In a story in the British newspaper The Observer over the weekend, BMI chief executive Nigel Turner said the airline wants to start U.S. service from Heathrow, possibly to Chicago, New York and Charlotte. Charlotte would be attractive because BMI is a member of the Star Alliance, which would allow its passengers to use the US Airways hub here to connect to destinations throughout the U.S. Tim Bye, BMI's deputy chief executive, said in an e-mail to The Charlotte Observer that a decision could come next month. He said it was premature to say what cities the airline is considering, but cities with Star Alliance hubs would be attractive.
Chicago is the home base of United Airlines, which is also a Star Alliance member.
Charlotte today has non-stop service to London on US Airways. But that flight is to Gatwick airport, which is farther from the city. Heathrow is considered a more attractive airport, especially for business travelers.
Flights from Heathrow to the U.S. have been restricted, with only British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, American Airlines and United allowed. But recent approval of the new "open skies" agreement -- which will go into effect next spring -- will allow open access to Heathrow, so long as U.S. carriers can acquire landing slots.
US Airways president Scott Kirby said earlier this month that US Airways would be interested in flying to Heathrow. But analysts believe that the airline would initially from there fly Philadelphia, which is the airline's major international hub.
BMI has more than 10 percent of the slots at Heathrow, though many are used for domestic flights inside the United Kingdom.
BMI's only U.S. service today is to Chicago and Las Vegas from Manchester.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Read tomorrow's Charlotte Observer for more details on this story.
