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BMIBABY has confirmed it will launch a bookable trade website and allow agents to reserve fares via a GDS as part of its campaign to woo the trade.

As exclusively revealed in Travel Weekly, the budget airline is keen to build bridges with the trade because it views agents as a major tool in the low-cost battle it predicts will develop with EasyJet.

Bmibaby’s move is unique as rivals such as EasyJet and Ryanair openly view the trade with suspicion.

The BMI subsidiary has also promised not to solicit direct business with corporate accounts and has expressed a willingness to enter into contracts with tour operators.

Managing director Tony Davis said: “The relationship between the low-costs and the trade has been strained, but the BMI Group has a long relationship of working with travel agents and we believe there is a way of working with them without increasing our cost base.”

Other initiatives include allocated seats, a hand-baggage allowance of up to 5kg plus a laptop and a hand-baggage check-in facility, which Davis expects will help attract business travellers.

He said: “There are a lot of people wearing ties on our flights, but we want more. Our slot times and on-board service are geared towards business travellers.”

Bmibaby will launch 22 routes on October 27, many of which have been transferred from parent BMI at East Midlands, bringing its total route network to 31.

Cork and Jersey are the latest routes the airline has confirmed it will service from this winter.

The carrier is planning a multi-million pound advertising campaign, covering television, radio and national newspapers, to promote the new routes.