The integration will also benefit passengers from Saudi Arabia going to various European destinations, as they will have a wide choice of flights to plan their journey. “With the integration of the two airlines, their resources and sales networks will help boost travel from and to the Kingdom and passengers can enjoy seamless travel throughout their network,” Loecherbach told Arab News on the sidelines of the two carriers’ top agent award presentation held at Moevenpick Hotel. Lufthansa has been the Kingdom’s online carrier since 1969. “We are currently having a high season, thanks to vacationers,” he said.

He added that the Lufthansa Group, which has posted an operating profit of 159 million euros for the second quarter of 2010, more than tripling the figure for the second quarter in 2009, also has acquired SWISS, Brussels Airlines, Austrian Airlines and a German low cost carrier. These together with its membership of Star Alliance facilitate passengers to travel to 980 destinations with more than 500 modern aircraft. “We will also introduce A380 on our global network, and hopefully to Saudi Arabia in the future,” Loecherbach said. He indicated that the carriers would operate charter flights during the upcoming Haj to fly in tens of thousands of pilgrims from the West. “Last year, we operated Haj charter flights from Manchester.”

Asked why SWISS has stopped operating to the Kingdom, Loecherbach said: “It was SWISS’ decision and due to financial reasons.”

Robert Lickley, bmi’s Riyadh-based country manager, said the British carrier has been operating to the Kingdom for the last four years. “The advantage with bmi is it flies to the most used London route. While 2009 was a difficult year for us due to various reasons, the current year looks promising,” he said.

With the integration of Lufthansa and bmi, the two airlines now offer 16 flights from Riyadh, 10 from Jeddah and six from Dammam. Of the flights from Riyadh, seven to Frankfurt and three to Munich are operated by Lufthansa, while the other six to London are operated by bmi. Of the 10 flights from Jeddah, seven by Lufthansa are from Frankfurt and the three others are for London by bmi. In the case of Dammam, Lufthansa and bmi operate three each.

Abdul Aziz Mangera, Lufthansa-bmi’s regional manager for Western Province, said the two carriers recently moved their sales offices from their old locations to the first floor of City Center in Jeddah. Local agents were given awards of appreciation for their support to the carriers, with the special award given to Kanoo Travel for its exceptional contribution.