BMI Airlines – Your UK Gateway to The World

BMI Airlines once known as Derby Aviation then Derby Airways then name changed again in 1964 to British Midland Airways then to bmi British Midland in 2001 until finally it settled on BMI in 2002 is the second largest airline at London Heathrow. BMI is now a part of the Lufthansa family of airlines.

Since starting nearly 70 years ago BMI now operate more than 1700 services per week to a network of 46 airports in the UK, Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia and Africa. Long-haul includes services to Mumbai, India and Riyadh and Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, and mid-haul routes service Moscow Domodedovo.

The company operates a stable of nearly 50 aircraft.

The aircraft fleet includes:

• 1 x A330-200

• 8 x A321-200

• 8 x A320-200

• 11 x A319-100

• 1 x 757-200

• 14 x Embraer ERJ-145

• 4 x Embraer ERJ-135

Personal NOTE: (Incidentally bmi states that it is committed to using technology but I found their website rather difficult to navigate and careers information even harder to find!)

BMI airline careers - Is this attractive to you?

• First class training and career progression

• A starting salary (at the time of writing this web page of) £11,508.00 per annum PLUS you'll earn hourly flight allowances and commissions from sales

• London Heathrow weighting is paid at a rate of £2,838.00 per annum

• Annual salary review with pay scales dependent on rank, performance and length of service

• 21 days paid holiday plus 8 days in lieu of bank holidays

• Concessionary travel after successful probationary period

• Company pension scheme

• Cabin Crew bases at: London Heathrow, Manchester, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Belfast.

NOTE: (New crew are normally initially based at London Heathrow for a minimum of 12 months before a transfer to another base becomes eligible)

Yes? Well here’s your initial requirements that must be met before you can make an application:

You will:

• Be a minimum of 18 years of age There is no upper age limit although the mandatory retirement age is 65

• Between 5'2" and 6'.2" in height with your weight in proportion to height

• Have achieved a minimum 4 GCSE's at grades A - C or the equivalent (NVQ level 2/grade 1 CSE only).

NOTE: (Certificates must be presented at your interview or before your employment

• Hold a valid unrestricted British or European passport

• Have a minimum of 12 month's experience in front-line customer service position

• Be physically fit and have a visual acuity of 6/9 in each eye, aided or unaided

• Have to be able to swim a minimum of 25 meters unaided

• Be fluent in the English language both spoken and written

• Immaculate appearance (There is no second standard to your presentation ever)!

If you meet the above requirements and submit an application, what now?

First your application will be assessed. Provided that you did in-fact meet the above requirements and you resume stands out from the other applicants, then you'll be invited to attend a one day recruitment event at a BMI airlines business premise in London, the Midlands, Scotland or Ireland.

You will be put through a series of group activities that will likely last approximately 3 hours.


Provided you avoid being ousted during this mass cull process you'll be asked to remain for the afternoon, to attend a personal interview to discuss your skills and experience further.

By the way I discuss group interviews and activities extensively in the Step-3 of the AFAA system

If English is not your mother tongue then you will undergo an English assessment to ensure that you can read, speak and write to the required level of competency to successfully complete the initial training course which involves unfamiliar and technical terms.

What do BMI Airlines look for in their flight attendants?

You’ll need to be and show that you:

• Are warm and welcoming

• Are energetic

• Are enthusiastic

• Take pride and pleasure in delighting people

• Are a team player and have the ability, initiative and flexibility to adapt to change and can remain calm under pressure

• Are a genuinely friendly person

• Have excellent communication skills

• And that you currently have or would like to develop your leadership skills. BMI Airlines see this as a definite plus in their employees.

Promotional opportunities include positions such as Flight Supervisor, Cabin Service Manager or Cabin Service Performance Manager. Promotion sometimes requires length of service however a merit based system is employed for job applications.

Mainline or Longhaul?

All positions are normally initially place with Mainline. Vacancies for the longhaul fleet are advertised internally when available.

Does a career with an bmi airlines appeal to you?

More information on bmi Flight Attendant jobs and career availability with every other airline on this web site can be obtained via the Flight Attendant Careers Airline News Ezine.

PS: (More links will be sent to you as they are added)