RIYADH, 16 May 2007 — The United Kingdom’s second largest carrier, bmi, has announced new flight frequencies and facilities for passengers flying from Saudi Arabia and Gulf countries to the British destinations. The bmi and the British Mediterranean Airways, also known as BMED, which has been acquired by bmi, will operate as a single entity from 0ctober this year to cover a network of 17 cities in 16 countries within the CIS, the Middle-East and Africa including Saudi Arabia.
Michel Turini, bmi’s commercial development manager for Saudi Arabia and Russia, said yesterday at a reception held at Marriot Hotel to award the company’s top 10 best-performing travel agencies in the Kingdom, that “starting the end of this month, we will also induct the Airbus 330 on Saudi-UK routes and replace the current B767.” “Starting with the winter schedule, our business class service will be significantly improved with the introduction of flat beds and a refurbishment of the business cabin,” he noted.
Turini further said that bmi is the sole UK scheduled airline service to the Kingdom today. He said that the airline had made considerable efforts and resources through the year to achieve a high level of punctuality.
“And the statistics for 2006 reflect bmi as the most punctual of all UK airlines at Heathrow Airport. As you know, punctuality is something that our customers demand and value highly,” he said. “Today our strategy is strengthened by the recent acquisition of British Mediterranean Airways, also known as BMED, with the determination to bring BMED and bmi to operate as a single entity,” Turini pointed out.
“The other great opportunity for bmi is definitively the open skies agreement between the European and the US authorities and our intention is from March 2008 to take advantage of this new and exciting challenge,” he said.
Kanoo Travels and Al-Tayyar were awarded crystal gold trophies as the highest performers in 2006. Al-Rajhi Wings, Portfolio and Al-Sarh jointly claimed the second position, and took away crystal silver trophies. bmi, a member of the Star Alliance group of airlines, flies non-stop from both Riyadh and Jeddah to London’s Heathrow airport and to other UK cities, as well as to Europe, North America and other destinations. bmi also unveiled its new marketing slogan “making traveling a pleasure.” This new direction will emphasize punctuality, business travel, passenger comfort and values such as “spirited, individual, modern and professional,” Turini said.