New low-cost scheme from airline

Business class services will remain on a handful of services

Airline BMI is to turn most of its Heathrow service into a low cost operation by scrapping business class on all but four of its routes.

The company plans to introduce low fares - starting at £25 one way - and charge for on-board food on 13 of its routes from the airport.

The move follows a six month study of the views of 10,000 air passengers.

Business class services on flights from Heathrow to Glasgow, Edinburgh, Belfast City and Brussels will not be affected.

The move brings the Heathrow operation into line with the company's budget airline, bmibaby, which operates out of five UK airports.

Nigel Turner, bmi's Chief Executive said: "More than half of air passengers travel on business. They or their companies choose to travel in economy.

"Our leisure travellers are getting lowest fares but a full service. Now they can choose what they want and what they want to pay for when they travel."

The changes do not affect the services run by the company's regional operation out of Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Nottingham East Midlands airports.