JEDDAH, 19 May 2006 — The eagerly awaited bmi Jeddah-London air link became a reality at 17.45 yesterday afternoon. To the applause of the group of officials on the apron, Nigel Turner, CEO of bmi accompanied by a delegation of UK journalists stepped off the historic flight to a warm welcome.
“We look on this new relationship with bmi as a partnership,” said Mazen Khashoggi, director general of Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz Airport in his remarks at the press conference held in the VIP terminal. “The market is her in Saudi Arabia and we look to moving forward together.”
Turner was upbeat in his view of the new route. “It has been a long time coming,” he said. “But in reality, we never went away.” bmi has “wet leased” airlines in the Gulf region — providing complete airline services under client’s banners. “This route has been two years in the planning and May 18 will be remembered as a historic day for bmi,” he said.
He drew attention to the importance of the route for British Muslims and emphasized the importance of Jeddah both as a gateway to the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah as a major factor in the decision to fly the route. “We are aware that we are guests in Saudi Arabia and we want and intend to serve your people appropriately,” he said.
“Jeddah is both a historic and expanding trading port and we felt it essential to have an airline fly the route. Saudi Arabia is going to be the driving force for the region over the next twenty years,” he continued, “So once the route became available it did not take us long to decide.” He said that London Heathrow acts as a hub and connecting point to the Star Alliance group of airlines that seamlessly connect bmi passengers to airlines that account for 25 percent of the world’s commercial traffic.
Asked whether bmi intended to extend its operations to the Eastern Province, Turner was positive in his response. “If customers to Jeddah react to the service in the same way as on the Riyadh route,” he said, “then an increase in services is inevitable. You will see other services before long.”
He pointed out that the 24-seat business cabin on the Riyadh route was to be expanded to 42. “Even that is looking a bit tight,” he said.
In response to requests for information on the price of tickets, he said that economy class will be SR2,000 and business SR9,100. bmi’s business class is the only one rated five star by Business Traveler magazine. The opening of the new route coincides with the Kingdom’s announcement that tourist visas will be easier to obtain from the UK.