Flybmi
A British regional airline that operated scheduled passenger services in the United Kingdom and Europe before entering administration and ceasing operations in February 2019.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Flybmi was the final trading name of British Midland Regional Ltd., a United Kingdom regional airline that operated short-haul scheduled passenger services across Britain and continental Europe. The airline originated as Business Air, a Scottish operator formed in 1987 through the combination of the Business Air Centre and Euroair operations. It began with irregular flights and then introduced scheduled Saab 340 services in 1988. After its acquisition by British Midland's parent company, the airline became increasingly integrated into the British Midland group and served as a feeder and regional operator. The business adopted the British Midland Commuter identity in 1998 and was renamed British Midland Regional Ltd. in 2001, trading under the bmi regional brand. During this period it operated regional routes for British Midland International and also undertook wet-lease and corporate-shuttle flying. Its work included operating BAe 146 aircraft for Lufthansa CityLine after the collapse of Debonair, as well as later staff-shuttle services for industrial and aerospace customers. The airline's fleet and network were built around small regional aircraft, particularly Saab 340s and Embraer ERJ-135 and ERJ-145 jets. Lufthansa became the sole owner of the wider BMI group in 2009. British Midland International was subsequently sold to International Airlines Group in 2012, while the regional subsidiary was sold separately to Sector Aviation Holdings. The regional carrier became independent from the BMI group in October 2012 and conducted a substantial network review, closing some loss-making routes and bases while introducing new services. In 2015 it joined Airline Investments Limited, a regional-airline group that also included Loganair. This relationship later enabled parts of Flybmi's fleet and route network to move to Loganair after Flybmi's collapse. The airline operated from bases including Aberdeen, Bristol, East Midlands, Newcastle, Brussels and Munich at different points in its history. It served domestic British destinations and European cities such as Frankfurt, Brussels, Munich, Bern, Rotterdam and Brno. Codeshare and partnership arrangements involved airlines including Lufthansa, Brussels Airlines, Air France, Air Dolomiti, Turkish Airlines and Loganair. Flybmi also operated selected charter and corporate services, including flights connected with Airbus manufacturing locations and an industrial shuttle associated with AgustaWestland. The bmi regional brand was changed to flybmi in July 2018. Although management explored the possibility of introducing larger regional jets, the airline continued to rely primarily on Embraer regional aircraft. On 16 February 2019, flybmi announced that it had ceased operations with immediate effect and entered administration. All flights were cancelled. The company attributed the failure to financial pressures affecting the regional-airline sector, including rising fuel and carbon costs and uncertainty surrounding the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union. Loganair subsequently announced replacement services on a number of former Flybmi routes, while Ryanair offered limited rescue fares and sought to recruit former employees. Fifteen aircraft were transferred to Loganair and the remaining aircraft were placed in storage.
History
Flybmi developed from Business Air, a Scottish regional operator established in 1987 through the merger of Business Air Centre and Euroair operations. The company began irregular flying in August 1987 and launched scheduled services on 7 April 1988 using Saab 340 turboprops. Its early network was built around regional links and feeder services rather than long-haul or high-capacity routes. British Midland's parent company acquired Business Air in 1996, with operational integration taking place approximately two years later. In December 1998 the airline adopted the British Midland Commuter name and operated feeder services into Manchester for British Midland. Following Debonair's collapse in 1999, it also operated five BAe 146 aircraft for Lufthansa CityLine under a wet-lease arrangement. On 21 May 2001, the business was renamed British Midland Regional Ltd. and traded as bmi regional. The airline's ownership changed as the BMI group evolved. Before Lufthansa's acquisition of full control, BMI was owned by Michael Bishop, Lufthansa and Scandinavian Airlines. Lufthansa purchased the remaining interests in October 2009. A subsequent restructuring affected regional operations, including the suspension of loss-making routes, capacity reductions and the temporary surplus of several Embraer aircraft. Those aircraft were leased to other operators while the company reviewed its business. The regional airline was sold in 2012 to Sector Aviation Holdings, an investment vehicle associated principally with Stephen and Peter Bond and with Business Air founders Ian Woodley and Graeme Ross. The transaction was announced in June 2012. British Midland International itself was acquired by International Airlines Group on 20 April 2012, but the regional carrier was separated from that transaction. bmi regional operated independently from October 2012 and changed its IATA designator from BD to BM. After independence, the airline reviewed its network and adjusted its bases and routes. It operated from Aberdeen and Bristol in the United Kingdom and Munich in Germany, with other bases and crew locations used at different times. In January 2014 it launched a domestic Norwegian operation based at Stavanger, linking Stavanger with Harstad/Narvik Airport, Evenes, although that service was later withdrawn. The airline also maintained specialist operations. It flew Airbus-related staff shuttles between manufacturing locations in Britain and Toulouse, and later operated an industrial shuttle connected with AgustaWestland. Codeshare cooperation became an important part of the network. A Lufthansa codeshare announced in 2014 supported services from Bristol to Frankfurt and routes to and from Munich. Flybmi also worked with Brussels Airlines on services from Britain to Brussels and later expanded that arrangement. At closure, its codeshare partners included Air Dolomiti, Air France, Brussels Airlines, Loganair, Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines. In August 2015, bmi regional became part of Airline Investments Limited alongside Loganair. The airline continued to use Embraer ERJ-135 and ERJ-145 aircraft and operated scheduled routes, charter flights and contracted flying. Its public brand changed to flybmi in July 2018. Management considered larger regional aircraft, including the Bombardier CRJ900 and Embraer 190, but the proposed fleet expansion did not occur before the airline failed. On the evening of 16 February 2019, flybmi announced that it was ceasing operations and entering administration with immediate effect. Every flight was cancelled. The closure ended more than three decades of operations under successive names. Fifteen aircraft were transferred to Loganair, while two were placed in storage. Loganair replaced selected services, and other airlines responded with limited assistance for affected passengers and former employees.
- 2019
Operations end
[1]Flybmi ceased flying and entered administration on 16 February.
- 2018
Rebrands as flybmi
[1]The airline replaced the bmi regional brand with flybmi on 5 July.
- 2015
Joins Airline Investments Limited
[1]bmi regional became part of Airline Investments Limited alongside Loganair.
- 2012
Sold to Sector Aviation Holdings
[1]The regional airline was separated from the wider BMI transaction and sold to Sector Aviation Holdings; it became independent later that year.
- 2001
Renamed British Midland Regional
[1]The legal company became British Midland Regional Ltd. and traded under the bmi regional brand.
- 1998
British Midland Commuter brand adopted
[1]The company adopted the British Midland Commuter identity and operated feeder services for British Midland.
- 1996
Acquired by British Midland's parent
[1]Business Air was purchased by Airlines of Britain, the parent company associated with British Midland.
- 1988
Scheduled operations begin
[1]The airline began scheduled services using Saab 340 aircraft on 7 April.
- 1987
Business Air is established
[1]Business Air was formed in Scotland through the merger of Business Air Centre and Euroair operations.
Products and positioning
Regional airline focused on scheduled short-haul connectivity, feeder services, codeshare flying and specialist contract operations.
Passenger air transport · 1988
Scheduled regional passenger services
Flybmi's principal offering was scheduled short-haul passenger transport linking regional airports in the United Kingdom with domestic and European destinations. The network used small regional aircraft and emphasized city-pair connectivity that was not always served by larger airlines. Routes were operated under Flybmi's own brand and, in some cases, through airline partnerships or codeshares.
Airline partnership · 2014
Codeshare services
The airline supplied regional flying for partner carriers and sold seats through codeshare arrangements. Partners at different times included Lufthansa, Brussels Airlines, Air France, Air Dolomiti, Turkish Airlines and Loganair. These relationships extended Flybmi's reach into larger airline distribution systems and supported connections through hubs such as Brussels, Frankfurt and Munich.
Contract aviation · 1999
Corporate and staff shuttle operations
Flybmi used its regional aircraft for contracted employee and corporate transportation in addition to public scheduled flying. Notable operations included Airbus-related shuttles linking manufacturing sites in Broughton, Filton and Toulouse, and a later industrial service associated with AgustaWestland. These contracts diversified the airline beyond ordinary ticketed passenger routes.
Charter aviation
Seasonal charter flights
The airline operated seasonal holiday charters for specialist tour operators. Examples included Bristol services to Bastia in Corsica for Corsican Places and Bristol–Verona flights for Inghams. Such flying supplemented the scheduled network during periods of stronger leisure demand.
Marketing campaigns
- 2018flybmi rebrand
United Kingdom · Europe
The airline introduced the flybmi name in July 2018, replacing the bmi regional identity and presenting the business as a standalone regional carrier.
Outcome. The new brand remained in use until the airline ceased operations in February 2019.
Brand decisions
2019
Immediate shutdown and administrationStrategyBackground
The airline faced financial pressure in a difficult regional-aviation environment, including higher fuel and carbon costs and uncertainty related to Brexit.
Action taken
Flybmi stopped all flights and entered administration on 16 February 2019.
Aftermath
Passengers were stranded, Loganair replaced some routes, Ryanair offered limited rescue fares, and fifteen aircraft moved to Loganair while two were stored.
- Loganair — Announced replacement services on several former Flybmi routes and received transferred aircraft.
- Ryanair — Offered limited rescue fares and sought to recruit former Flybmi staff.
2018
Evaluation of larger regional jetsGeneration changeBackground
Management assessed whether larger regional aircraft could support future growth and improve network economics.
Action taken
The Bombardier CRJ900 and Embraer 190 were considered, while two Embraer ERJ-145 aircraft were transferred to Loganair for the 2019 summer schedule.
Aftermath
The larger-aircraft plan did not reach implementation before Flybmi ceased operations.
2015
Integration into Airline Investments LimitedStrategyBackground
The owners sought to organize regional aviation assets under a common group structure.
Action taken
bmi regional joined Airline Investments Limited alongside Loganair.
Aftermath
The shared ownership later facilitated the transfer of aircraft and replacement of selected Flybmi routes by Loganair after the 2019 administration.
2012
Separation from BMI and sale to Sector Aviation HoldingsM&ABackground
The regional operation was separated from the sale of British Midland International to International Airlines Group.
Action taken
Sector Aviation Holdings acquired the regional airline, which subsequently operated independently from October 2012.
Aftermath
The airline conducted a network review, changed its airline designator from BD to BM and moved its headquarters to the East Midlands Airport area.
Recent events
- 2019
Flybmi ceases operations and enters administration[1]
Bankruptcy
Flybmi stopped flying on 16 February 2019 and entered administration, cancelling all scheduled services.
- 2019
Loganair takes over selected former Flybmi routes[1]
M&A · Other
Following the collapse, sister airline Loganair announced replacement services on several routes previously operated from Aberdeen and Newcastle.
- 2019
Ryanair offers limited rescue fares and recruitment support[1]
Other · Leadership change
Ryanair offered rescue fares to some stranded Flybmi passengers and sought to recruit former Flybmi personnel after the shutdown.
- 2018
Flybmi rebrands from bmi regional[1]
Campaign · Other
The airline changed its public brand from bmi regional to flybmi on 5 July 2018.
Sources1 sources
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