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 British Midland (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 refused 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.

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 International, Norwich.

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.


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BMI Contact Details

Head office:
Donington Hall, Castle Donington, Derby. DE74 2SB

 http://www.flybmi.com/bmi/en-gb/index.aspx

Nigel Turner, Chief Executive Officer BMI Airways
Fax: 01332 854 989
email:  Nigel.Turner@flybmi.com

Switchboard Telephone: 01334 854 000
Open Mon-Fro 8:00am-6:00pm

Customer Relations
Tel: 01332 854 321
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Open: Mon-Fri 9:30am-4:30pm

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