A few days ago, BMI Regional announced that they were closing their service between Edinburgh and Stornaway due to insufficient demand. The airline ensured there would be no inconvenience to their customers already booked by transferring their tickets to the continuing British Airways service.

When the route was introduced a couple of years ago, many might have been puzzled as to why a remote Scottish island would be interested in another daily service to the capital. However, increases in tourism, and the developing governance of the Scottish Executive would have been good reason to believe that passenger numbers were likely to increase. Whilst numbers have increased, so has the capacity of the Loganair planes, and there are simply too many empty seats to make it worthwhile for BMI to continue.

We're pleased that BMI have immediately rebooked passengers on the alternative flights. It contrasts with the practice of some low cost carriers who try to avoid rerouting passengers, instead thinking that a refund will be satisfactory. We take a brief look at passenger rights when a route is closed.

The train operating company in the Midlands, Central Trains has been awarded an extension to its franchise until November 2007.

The company has been given new terms to encourage service improvements. It will be required to operate the existing timetable. The extension helps facilitate the re-mapping of franchises in the Midlands, which was announced by DfT in October 2005. Three new franchises - East Midlands, West Midlands and Cross Country - will replace the current four franchises operated by Central Trains, Silverlink, Virgin Cross Country and Midland Mainline.

The Premiership team and officials of Blackburn Rovers were involved in a major scare on Monday as their plane was hit by lightning en route to Manchester Airport.

Players reported hearing an explosion as the 31 seater Dornier 328 aircraft chartered from Scot Airways flew through a storm and turbulence. The lightning strike cause a bolt to be blown out from the back of the plane, but the aircraft landed safely at Manchester Airport shortly afterwards.

In a recent interview given to the Manchester Evening News, British Airways Chairman Willie Walsh has expressed satisfaction with the launch of its low cost offering, BA Connect.

BA Connect was launched in March 2006, and is a makeover of its regional airline CitiExpress. With the exception of the London City to Edinburgh route, complementary food service has been withdrawn, but otherwise things are much the same.

The largest difference with BA Connect is its pricing structure. The cheapest seats now start from £25 each way, flights are available as single legs, and a premium service for business travellers offers flexible ticketing and lounge access. The biggest savers will be those booking first, with few last minute bargains available, as is common with all low cost carriers.

The broadcasting watchdog has prevented further airing of a British Airways television advertisement that claims that the airline is the only one offering customers the possibility to check in and print a boarding pass online.

The action came once the British Advertising Clearance Centre (BACC) were made aware that a rival airline, KLM, offered a similar facility to that of British Airways. The claim was true when the ad was first broadcast, but ceased to be so once KLM had introduced a similar service.

Low cost airline Flyglobespan is to stop services on its Glasgow and Edinburgh to London routes, and will not move ahead with a planned link between Edinburgh and Bournemouth.

The surprise announcement has been blamed on poor ticket sales and a need for the airline to concentrate on its European routes out of Stansted. Flights will continue to be operated through to the end of February.

The Scotsman newspaper reports that hundreds of customers have been left high and dry and simply had their fares returned, being advised to make alternative arrangements.