330 jobs saved after BMI Regional sold to ‘Granite Aviation’ consortium

SOME 330 jobs at Aberdeen-based BMI Regional have been saved after the airline was bought by the “Granite Aviation” business consortium, Sector Aviation Holdings.

The group will pay just £8 million for the loss-making carrier, which British Airways’ owner International Airlines Group (IAG) had sought to dispose of after buying the BMI group from Lufthansa.

The sale includes BMI Regional’s fleet of 18 Embraer jets, which operate on routes including between Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen and UK and northern European cities.

IAG chief executive Willie Walsh said: “This deal provides a future for BMI Regional and should secure around 330 jobs”.

He said Sector Aviation was a consortium of businessmen with “considerable aviation experience”, led by Ian Woodley, with funding from Stephen and Peter Bond, who are also investors in Loganair.

IAG announced last week the closure of BMI Baby in September after it failed to find a buyer.