News in brief from Lufthansa and bmi, oneworld, Star Alliance and Etihad
Senior executives leave bmi
Bmi has announced the departure of two senior executives just weeks after Lufthansa took control as majority stakeholder.
bmi Mainline's managing director Peter Spencer and commercial director Martyn Bridger are to leave but no reason has yet been given.
A spokesperson for Lufthansa declined to comment on the individual cases but said the airline would have reviewed bmi's management structure.
Mr Spencer will be replaced by Dominic Paul, former head of business development at low-cost airline Go which is now part of easyJet.
No replacement for Mr Bridger has been announced.
Lufthansa was forced to buy a 50% stake in bmi after its founder Sir Michael Bishop exercised a share option.
A cash row erupted when Lufthansa asked bmi shareholders to inject fresh capital into the airline which has suffered as a result of the economic downturn.
www.flybmi.com www.lufthansa.com
oneworld to complete Barcelona move
Members of the oneworld airline alliance serving Barcelona El Prat airport are to move to the new Terminal 1 building on September 9.
The airlines include Iberia and affiliate Air Nostrum, American Airlines, British Airways, Finnair and Royal Jordanian.
Vueling, which is part-owned by Iberia but not itself a oneworld member, will also move to the building at the same time.
oneworld's airlines will have adjoining check-in desks. Lounge arrangements are yet to be confirmed.
London Heathrow will see a similar move this year when oneworld members go from using five terminals to just two.
oneworld completed a similar move to Madrid's Terminal 4 in February 2006.
www.oneworld.com
Star Alliance launches mobile IT platform
Star Alliance has launched a "Common IT Mobile Platform" for airline members which lack their own mobile websites.
Egyptair, South African Airways and TAP Portugal are the first Star Alliance members to launch individual mobile portals under the initiative.
Each airline has designed their own site using common IT standards provided by Star Alliance.
Star Alliance ceo Jaan Albrecht said more member carriers would be able to offer passengers mobile services.
Each site provides flight schedules, real time flight departures and arrivals, lounge information, currency converter, weather and information on destinations.
More interactive services such as frequent flyer status, online check-in with seat maps for seat selection and mobile boarding passes with 2D bar codes will be made available in the coming weeks.
www.staralliance.com
Etihad to open new premium lounge at Heathrow
Etihad Airways is to open a new premium lounge in Terminal Four at Heathrow Airport at the end of the month.
The national carrier for the United Arab Emirates is moving its operation to T4 from Terminal Three as part of the major re-organisation of the airport.
Facilities in the lounge will include massage services, a prayer room, dining facilities and work stations.
www.etihadairways.com