British Midland International, or BMI, is a large United Kingdom carrier that operates out of Manchester and London Heathrow to numerous destinations worldwide. The airline operates a large mixed fleet and has had a remarkable safety record.
BMI's origins date back to 1949 with the formation of Derby Aviation Limited, a small charter operation that operated as a subsidy of a flight school. The airline changed its name to British Midland Airways in 1964 after purchasing Manchester-based Mercury Airlines. BMI launched a new corporate identity in 2001.
The airline operates two hubs at London Heathrow Airport and Manchester International Airport. The airline files to destinations in Europe, North America, the Caribbean, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.
The airline operates 54 aircraft in 2009. BMI operates a mix of Airbus and Boeing narrow-body and wide-body aircraft. The average age of its fleet is almost six years as of May 2009.
BMI is a member of the Star Alliance, the largest airline alliance in the world.
Since 1967, the airline had had two incidents. The Stockport Air Disaster in 1967 led to 72 of 84 onboard killed, and the 12 survivors were severely injured. The Kegworth air disaster in 1989 led to the death of 47 out of the 118 passengers.
