bmi is to commence a three times weekly service to Jeddah from Heathrow commencing April 23, 2006.
The airline will also increase to daily its service from Heathrow to Mumbai on April 22.
The introduction of a direct link from Heathrow to Jeddah follows the successful launch in September last yeart of a three times weekly service to the Saudi Arabia capital Riyadh. The addition of Jeddah means that bmi will be the only UK airline providing key direct links from the UK to both of the country’s administrative and commercial centres. The new destination will offer customers bmi’s full in-flight service including an onboard chef for business class passengers
Nigel Turner, chief executive of bmi, said: “We have been extremely encouraged by the start that we have had on the Heathrow to Riyadh route. The opportunity exists for us to again re-establish direct air links with one of the Middle East’s key destinations. I am confident that, as with Riyadh, we will again benefit from the support and encouragement of both the UK and Saudi governments in making our new service to Jeddah another success story.”
bmi will also commence a daily service to Doha from Heathrow in the summer of 2006. The service will commence on March 26 and, subject to government approval, will be operated under a wet lease agreement with Qatar Airways. At the same time bmi’s existing codeshare agreement with Qatar Airways will be expanded to allow bmi to sell Qatar Airways flights from Heathrow to Doha under bmi’s flight code. This will further consolidate the presence of bmi at both Heathrow and in the Gulf region and mark another major step in the global reach of the airline.