ARINC Incorporated has been awarded a Type B network communications contract by UK based bmi, the second-largest airline operator at London Heathrow International Airport and part of the Lufthansa Group, to provide external Type B messaging.
 
Under a contract awarded on March 3rd 2010, ARINC will provide its AviNet Type B network service and a suite of Type B messaging applications to support worldwide Sales, Cargo and Passenger operations for bmi, bmi regional and bmibaby. Deployment is expected to be complete during May 2010.
 
ARINC’s solution will optimize bmi’s Type B environment with several efficient user applications. These will include ARINC’s AviGateTM messaging hub that stores, routes, and forwards both Type X and Type B messages; AviNet Xmail service, which integrates IATA Type X Messaging with Type B and E-mail; and AviNet MQ, a cost-effective solution for Type B messaging on public networks with secure data transmission and encryption.
 
“ARINC has provided us with a solution to meet our requirements, both now and for the future,” said Dave Edmunds, Head of IT Service, bmi. “They have also given us the flexibility to react quickly to changes in our market place.”
 
“The award of this contract by bmi represents a major endorsement of ARINC’s Type B messaging service,” said Andy Hubbard, ARINC Aviation Solutions Director Europe, Middle East and Africa. “We believe our AviNet solution will provide bmi with a superior Type B messaging environment, as well as the most efficient messaging tools available to cover all of their communications requirements.”
 
ARINC’s comprehensive solution gives bmi the ability to “smart-route” internal Type B message traffic for added operational efficiency and lower cost. The AviNet messaging applications will also allow bmi to phase in the use of modern XML messaging at their chosen pace, as XML increasingly becomes an industry standard.
 
The second largest airline at London Heathrow, bmi operates passenger services to destinations throughout the UK, Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia, and Africa.
 
bmi's global reach is further extended by membership in the Star Alliance network with 19,700 daily flights to 1,077 airports in 175 countries. bmi is committed to using the latest technology including E-ticketing, Online Booking and Self Check-in at both the airport and via the Internet, all with the aim of helping to smooth and speed up the pre-flight experience. The airline already boasts one of the best punctuality records of any airline operating in the UK and is committed to further enhancing the passenger experience. bmi is part of the bmi group which also comprises bmi Regional, operating business flights between UK and European destinations, and bmibaby, a low cost airline operating flights to UK and European destinations from four domestic bases. the bmi airlines are 100 per cent owned by LHBD Holding Limited.