BRITISH Airways’ recently unveiled 2009 summer schedule sees the airline operating 66 weekly flights from eight GCC markets to London Heathrow, a 35 per cent increase on the equivalent programme last year.
The airline’s biggest ever regional summer schedule comes at a time when other leading regional and global carriers have reduced seasonal schedules to combat the current economic downturn.
Despite recently announcing it expected to post £150million (Dh791 million) losses for the period April 1, 2008 to March 31, 2009, Paolo De Renzis, the airline’s recently appointed commercial manager, Middle East, said the region - where the carrier has operated for 77 years - remained a vital component in British Airways’ long term growth strategy.
“The Middle East continues to show robust growth and remains an important market for the airline,” said De Renzis, in his first major announcement since taking the regional hot seat in February.
“It’s no secret the aviation industry is in the worst trading environment it has ever faced and several carriers have folded already this year, following the 30-plus airlines that went bust in 2008.”
“However, while not immune from the tightening market conditions brought about by falling passenger numbers, we believe we are well positioned to navigate any turbulence,” he said.
De Renzis said that the airline’s re-entrance into Saudi Arabia on May 31 offers it another key revenue source; it will operate five weekly flights from both Jeddah and Riyadh, respectively, to Terminal 5 at Heathrow.
The summer schedule runs until end October this year, and is operated by two Boeing 777s and a single Boeing 747 offering three daily flights from Dubai to London Heathrow, while a Boeing 777 will operate the airline’s daily Abu Dhabi service.