Alpha wins bmi contract

Nicole Mezzasalma

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UK company will supply inflight retail services to medium- and long-haul flights

Alpha Airports Group division Alpha Flight Services has won a three-year contract to provide bmi’s charter, long- and medium-haul operations with an inflight retail service. The contract includes the management and servicing of bmi’s retail offer for flights operating out of Manchester International and London Heathrow airports, including routes previously served by British Mediterranean Airways (BMed) to the Middle East.

Alpha Flight Services will be responsible for planning, sourcing and managing the product ranges to be sold as well as training the bmi crew, managing sales materials and offering support. The company will also operate bonded stores, cash management and reconciliation services, and has overall responsibility over bar planning, packing and delivery, centralised stock management and ordering.

The onboard retail offer will include a boutique range including fragrance, skincare and cosmetics, fashion accessories, gifts, paid-for drinks and a small range of snacks and confectionery on some routes.

Alpha Flight Services sales and commercial director Lance Hayward said: "We have worked closely with bmi in recent years to help improve the inflight retail experience for their passengers. In particular, we’ve successfully expanded ranges to meet the higher spending consumer profile of passengers on selected routes. We look forward to working with bmi through our unique retail management programme to build on this success and further enhance bmi passengers’ inflight retail experience.”

The new contract will run for three years from October 28 2007.