British low-cost airline BMI is to reduce its Dublin to London Heathrow service, putting 33 Dublin-based cabin crew jobs at risk.
The airline’s current operation between Dublin and London Heathrow requires one aircraft to be based in each airport, with cabin crew staffing both bases.
However, BMI said today it would cut the service to four flights per day from the end of March which will require only one aircraft to be based in Heathrow.
“The removal of the aircraft based at Dublin will regrettably also mean the closure of the cabin crew base at Dublin, resulting in 33 cabin crew positions being at risk of redundancy,” the airline said.
The move was part of a “further restructuring to its mainline operations” aimed at returning the company to profitability, it said.
The airline, owned by German carrier Lufthansa, said it had commenced discussions with staff and union representatives with a view to minimising job losses wherever possible.
BMI, which has operated flights between Dublin and Heathrow since 1989, announced plans to cut 600 jobs and scrap several loss-making routes last November as part of a restructuring prompted by falling demand.
Like other airlines, BMI has been hit by weak demand, volatile fuel prices and increased competition.