Shut down BMI Airlines day

In 2007 the UK government deported 63,140 migrants. Airline companies are a key link in the deportation industry. Without them it would be very difficult, if not impossible, for the state to implement this aspect of the migration regime and there can be no migration controls without deportations.

People who are being deported are often handcuffed on the flight and there have been a number reports of physical assaults on deportees by the security personnel who escort them.

On 20th September 2008, No Borders South Wales activist Babi Badalov was deported on a BMI flight to Azerbaijan, where has experienced physical abuse and state persecution. Despite hundreds of telephone calls, emails and faxes to BMI raising objections to the removal, BMI chose to ignore this and ensured the deportation took place.

BMI is the UK’s second largest full service airline with reported profits of £15.5 million in 2007. The airline is responsible for carrying migrants who are being deported from the UK against their will by the British Government.

BMI employees told those ringing on the day that BMI could not refuse to fly Babi and it was out of their control. However, other airlines have refused to fly deportees in the past including XL Airways who announced in 2007 that they would no longer carry failed asylum-seekers who were being forcibly removed from the UK.

BMI must be made aware of the impact of their actions on the lives of the people they deport and how their image and business will be affected if they continue this practice. We need to let them know that they can not take part in such activities without consequences.

No Borders South Wales are calling for a sustained campaign against BMI. We call on BMI to no longer take part in the forced deportation of migrants.

Contact BMI and register your disapproval at their role in deporting people back to places they do not wish to go back to, for whatever the reason this may be. Urge BMI to follow the other airlines who have taken an ethical stance and who refuse to carry out any more deportations.

On the 20th October let’s hit BMI with everything we’ve got! Then let’s do this on the 20th of every month until BMI see sense.

BMI Contact Details:

Head office: Donington Hall, Castle Donington, Derby. DE74 2SB
Switchboard
Telephone: 01334 854 000
Open Mon-Fro 8am-6pm
Customer Relations
Tel: 01332 854 321
Fax: 01332 854 875
Open: Mon-Fri 9:30am-4:30pm
Group Reservations
Tel: 01332 854500
Open: Mon-Fri 9am- 5:30pm
Baggage Claims
Tel: 0115 8517 005
Open: Mon-Sun 8am- 8pm
Highflyers
Tel: 01332 854454
Fax: 01332 854 238
Special Assistance
Tel: 0131 3445600
Textphone: 01332 854015
Open: Mon-Sun 7am-9pm
Diamond Club
Tel: 01332 854 274
Fax: 01623 724099
Open: Mon-Fri 8am-8pm
Refunds
Tel: 01332 854 534
Open: Mon-Fri 9am-3:30pm
Technical Support
Tel: 01509 686 628
Open: Mon-Sat 8am- 7pm
Charter Dept
Tel: 01332 854 656
Open Mon-Fri 9am-pm
BMI Baby Reservations
Tel: 01332 648 181
Mon-Sun 8am-8pm

BMI flights operate from the following UK Airports:
Aberdeen, Belfast (City), Birmingham, Bristol, Durham Tees Valley, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Jersey, Leeds Bradford, London City, London Gatwick, London, Heathrow, Manchester, Newcastle Intl, Norwich

Call-out leaflet (PDF)