Shut down BMI Airlines day! Monday 20th October 2008
No Borders South Wales | 13.10.2008 14:05 | Anti-racism | Migration
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.
On 20th September 2008, No Borders South Wales activist Babi Badalov was deported on a BMI flight to Azerbaijan, where he 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 Monday 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.
Phone/fax numbers various BMI departments further down
Leave a complaint/concern
BMI Customer Relations: At BMI we are committed to our customers and value your feedback. You can leave a complaint/concern @
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Organize a picket of your local BMI check in desk
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.
No Borders South Wales: A collective of people who organise against migration controls and for the freedom of movement for all. We work on a non-hierarchical, anti-authoritarian basis, using consensus decision making.
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Call-out leaflet for Monday 20th October:
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BMI Contact Details
Head office: Donington Hall, Castle Donington, Derby. DE74 2SB
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Nigel Turner, Chief Executive Officer BMI Airways Fax: 01332 854 989
BMI: Customer Relations att BMI we are committed to our customers and value your feedback. You can leave a complaint/concern @
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Switchboard
Telephone: 01334 854 000
Open Mon-Fro 8:00am-6:00pm
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 9:00am- 5:30pm
Baggage Claims
Tel: 0115 8517 005
Open: Mon-Sun 8:00am- 8:00pm
Highflyers
Tel: 01332 854454
Fax: 01332 854 238
Special Assistance
Tel: 0131 3445600
Textphone: 01332 854015
Open: Mon-Sun 7:00am-9:00pm
Diamond Club
Tel: 01332 854 274
Fax: 01623 724099
Open: Mon-Fri 8:00am-8:00pm
Refunds
Tel: 01332 854 534
Open: Mon-Fri 9:00am-3:30pm
Technical Support
Tel: 01509 686 628
Open: Mon-Sat 8am- 7pm
Charter Dept
Tel: 01332 854 656
Open Mon-Fri 9:00am-pm
BMI Baby Reservations
Tel: 01332 648 181
Mon-Sun 8:00am-8:00pm
Stop Deportations!
End of Bulletin:
Source for this Message:
No Borders South Wales
e-mail:
noborderswales@.riseup.net