Summary
British Midland Airways, later known as bmi, played an influential role in British civil aviation, and one of the most significant chapters in its history revolves around its use of the Boeing 737. While the airline’s early days as Derby Aviation and its transformation into British Midland are well-documented, the Boeing 737 became the workhorse of the fleet and an integral part of its operations for several decades.
In this article, we will explore the variants of the 737 flown by British Midland, key moments in its history with the aircraft, the transition to Airbus models, and the legacy of the 737s in the bmibaby subsidiary.
British Midland’s Early Adoption of the Boeing 737
British Midland first introduced the Boeing 737 into its fleet in the 1980s, at a time when the airline was expanding its network to cover more domestic and European routes. While the airline had introduced a fleet of Douglas DC-9s, the 737 was a natural fit for the airline, given its reliability, flexibility, and suitability for short-to-medium-haul flights.
The first 737 variant that British Midland operated was the Boeing 737-200, which was delivered in 1986. Only three examples were flown, while waiting for larger variants to be delivered.
Expansion with the Boeing 737 Classics
British Midland’s relationship with the Boeing 737 deepened in 1987 when the airline introduced the Boeing 737-300, that offered improved fuel efficiency and performance over the older -200 models.
The -300s became the backbone of British Midland’s European fleet, used on a wide range of routes, both within the UK and across Europe.
British Midland’s 737-300s were used extensively for business-heavy routes, where the aircraft’s seating configuration and reliability made it ideal for high-frequency services. The introduction of the 737-300 allowed British Midland to compete more effectively with larger carriers like British Airways, especially on routes to key business centers like Brussels and Frankfurt.
LRS747, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Following the success of the 737-300, British Midland expanded its fleet further with the addition of the Boeing 737-400 and 737-500 variants. The -400, introduced in 1988, was stretched over the -300 and could carry more passengers, making it ideal for routes with higher demand. The -500, introduced in 1993, was a shorter variant that offered the same modern features as the -300 but with lower seating capacity, perfect for thinner routes or off-peak services.
These Classic 737s became a familiar sight across British and European airports throughout the 1990s.
The Kegworth Air Disaster
Air Accidents Investigation Branch, OGL v1.0OGL v1.0, via Wikimedia Commons
One of the most tragic events in British Midland’s history—and in British aviation history—occurred on January 8, 1989. British Midland Flight 92, a Boeing 737-400 (registration G-OBME), was en route from London Heathrow to Belfast when it encountered an engine failure shortly after takeoff. The flight crew mistakenly shut down the wrong engine, and the aircraft crashed onto the embankment of the M1 motorway near the village of Kegworth during an attempted emergency landing at East Midlands Airport.
Of the 126 people on board, 47 were killed, and 74 sustained serious injuries. The Kegworth air disaster was a significant moment for British Midland and prompted changes in aviation safety protocols. Investigators found that the flight crew had misinterpreted the engine failure, leading to the tragic decision to shut down the working engine. The incident also highlighted issues with pilot training and the need for improved communication between manufacturers and airlines regarding new aircraft systems.
In the aftermath of the disaster, British Midland worked closely with aviation authorities and Boeing to improve training and procedures, while also supporting the families of the victims. For aviation enthusiasts, the Kegworth air disaster remains a poignant chapter in the history of British Midland and the Boeing 737-400.
Transition to Airbus A320 Family Aircraft
Gary Watt (GFDL 1.2 <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/fdl-1.2.html> or GFDL 1.2 <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/fdl-1.2.html>), via Wikimedia Commons
By the late 1990s and early 2000s, British Midland was facing increased competition from other European carriers and low-cost airlines. To stay competitive and modernize its fleet, the airline began transitioning from Boeing 737s to the Airbus A320 family, which included the A319, A320, and A321 variants.
The Airbus A320 family offered several advantages over the 737, including more advanced avionics, greater fuel efficiency, and the ability to standardize across multiple sizes of aircraft with similar cockpit designs. British Midland began phasing out its 737s during the early 2000s, with the last 737s leaving the mainline bmi fleet by the mid-2000s.
However, British Midland’s shift to Airbus did not spell the end for its Boeing 737s.
The Legacy of the 737: bmibaby
In 2002, British Midland launched a low-cost subsidiary named bmibaby, designed to compete with budget carriers such as Ryanair and easyJet. bmibaby was based at East Midlands Airport and operated primarily short-haul European leisure routes. Interestingly, while bmi had moved on from the 737, bmibaby adopted many of these aircraft for its operations.
bmibaby’s fleet consisted mostly of Boeing 737-300s and 737-500s that had previously been operated by British Midland. These aircraft continued to serve passengers on routes to popular holiday destinations such as Spain, Portugal, and Greece. For plane spotters, bmibaby’s colorful livery, featuring the iconic blue, white, and red logo with a playful “baby” motif, made these 737s an easily recognizable sight.
The bmibaby 737s flew until the airline’s closure in 2012, following bmi’s acquisition by British Airways. This marked the final chapter of the Boeing 737’s long history within the British Midland family.
Survivors
9H-YES, previously G-BVZI. Photo (c) Liam McManus
Following the airline’s merger into British Airways, and the closure of bmibaby, British Midland’s Boeing 737 fleet was subsequently sold on.
Today, some examples remain active with other airlines, including:
G-BVKD, Boeing 737-59D, now PK-YSC with Trigana Air Services
G-BVZI, Boeing 737-5Q8, currently stored in Canada as 9H-YES
G-ECAS, Boeing 737-36N, currently stored in Rosewell, NM, as N554WT
G-OBMF, Boeing 737-4Y0, now preserved as a restaurant in Wuhan, China
G-OBMM, Boeing 737-4Y0, now XA-EGD with Aeronaves TSM
G-OBMN, Boeing 737-46B, now preserved at Keramas Beach, Indonesia
G-OBMO, Boeing 737-4Q8, now N403CK with Kalitta Charters II
G-OBMR, Boeing 737-5Y0, now EP-RBA with Ava Airlines
G-OBMX, Boeing 737-59D, now PR-SKD with Sideral Linhas Aereas
G-ODSK, Boeing 737-37Q, now 4L-TBA with Tbilisi Airways
G-OJTW, Boeing 737-36N, now EP-FPC with Fly Persia
G-SMDB, Boeing 737-36N, now 5N-YSM with Azman Air (stored)
G-SFBH, Boeing 737-46N, now XA-VGB with Aeronaves TSM
What are your memories of British Midland’s Boeing 737 fleet? Did you fly on them, or with bmibaby? Leave a comment below.
Title image: simon butler
