bmi press release:

bmi, British Midland International, is flying its full international schedule today (Thursday 22 April) – the first British airline to achieve this, just one day after UK airspace reopened.

The airline, the second largest carrier at London Heathrow, is also operating additional flights to and from key Middle East destinations to help repatriate stranded customers.

The majority of bmi’s UK and Ireland flight programme will operate today. Flights between London Heathrow and all bmi’s UK and Ireland destinations (Aberdeen, Belfast, Dublin, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Manchester) will help UK customers and businesses get back to business as usual. bmi was the first airline to restore flights between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland and UK mainland yesterday.

The airline will be operating its normal schedule tomorrow (Friday 23 April) and over the weekend.

bmi restarted its flights yesterday morning, with the departure of a flight from London Heathrow to Cairo. More than 60 flights were operated yesterday, bringing a substantial number of customers home.

Safety is, and continues to be, bmi’s number one priority and the planned schedules may be subject to change. Customers are advised to check their individual flight status at www.flybmi.com before leaving for the airport.

Customers whose flights were cancelled in the last seven days should contact bmi’s call centre to rebook their flights on 0844 8484 888 (UK) or (01) 4073036 (Ireland). Customers whose flights were cancelled are entitled to a full refund or can rebook within three weeks of original departure date, for travel within two months. Normal refund conditions apply.

In addition any customers travelling between London Heathrow and Middle East, African and Russia/CIS destinations in the next seven days can defer their flights at no extra charge to free up seats for stranded customers. Customers on these routes wishing to change their flights can rebook to the same destination, with outbound travel to commence by Friday 21 May 2010. Normal refund conditions apply.

Finally bmi, British Midland International, would like to thank all its customers for their patience over the last eight days and looks forward to welcoming them back onboard.