"Advanced discussions” are underway for a UK-based investor group to buy Bmi’s Aberdeen-based subsidiary Bmi Regional.
The move is likely to mean a break-up for Bmi, leaving its international operations for another party to buy from its owner Lufthansa, along with low-cost subsidiary Bmibaby.
British Airways and Virgin Atlantic have both publicly expressed their interest in Bmi, in particular for its slots at Heathrow.
The investors for Bmi Regional remain unnamed, but Bmi said in a statement that the group had been “previously associated with the regional business”.
All assets of Bmi Regional would be included in the sale, including a fleet of some 14 Embraer aircraft, existing regional route network and staff.
The two parties hope to have the sale completed by the end of December.
For an “interim period” Bmi Regional will continue to fly under its existing brand and BD flight code.
Current schedules for the winter 2011/12 schedule will continue as planned, and “no major network changes are envisaged” for summer 2012, said Bmi.
Bmi Regional operates from UK regional airports, including Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds Bradford, Manchester and East Midlands, to British and European destinations.