bmi/BMED Integration

(from flybmi.com)
bmi announces major enhancements to Middle East network from Heathrow

release date: 18/07/2007

– new daily Heathrow to Cairo service

– increased direct services from Heathrow to Amman and Beirut

bmi, Heathrow’s second largest carrier, has announced that it will serve a new destination as well as introduce major enhancements to its network of services from Heathrow with effect from 28 October this year.

The airline is to launch daily flights from London to the Egyptian capital of Cairo. The new competitive service will be operated by an Airbus A320 aircraft in a two class business and economy configuration.

bmi also announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding with EgyptAir, which will see the carriers enter into reciprocal codeshare and frequent flyer agreements shortly. This will enable passengers to benefit from reciprocal flight codes on each airline’s flights as well as frequent flyer programme rewards and benefits. Return fares on the new bmi service to Cairo will start from £878 business and £299 economy (including taxes and charges).

Major enhancements for travellers will also take place from 28 October to other destinations newly served by bmi as it commences services at the start of the winter timetable. The Jordanian capital of Amman and the Lebanese capital of Beirut each benefit with an increase in direct frequency, with daily services now available to both locations.

Nigel Turner, bmi chief executive officer said: “The introduction of new competition onto routes has historically invigorated markets and we expect our new competitive service from Heathrow to the Egyptian capital of Cairo to appeal to both leisure and business travellers alike. It is also extremely pleasing that our service to Cairo will be operated in cooperation with EgyptAir. This will enable each of us to benefit from our strengths in our respective home markets to promote and sell seats on each others’ services.

“The frequency enhancement to schedules on routes from Heathrow to Amman and Beirut will be welcomed by travellers. Together, these major network enhancements will enable much greater flexibility in planning business travel itineraries

“The new destination, service and frequency enhancements that we are announcing today, together with the full integration of the former BMED network into bmi, represents the biggest expansion that we will have ever undertaken in a single action.

“The number of destinations that bmi will serve from Heathrow at the start of the winter timetable will be 36. This further reinforces our position as Heathrow’s second biggest carrier and sends out a clear message of the presence of bmi as a major force within UK aviation both now and in the future.”

The latest schedules are as follows:

• Amman schedule
Heathrow-Amman
BD6533 depart 2100, arrive 0410 (Mon)
BD6533 depart 1515, arrive 2225 (Tues & Thurs)
BD6587 depart 1430, arrive 2140 (Weds)
BD6533 depart 2100, arrive 0410 (Fri)
BD6533 depart 1320, arrive 2030 (Sat)
BD6521 depart 1455, arrive 2205 (Sun)

Amman-Heathrow
BD6522 depart 0910, arrive 1300 (Mon)
BD6534 depart 0915, arrive 1305 (Tues)
BD6534 depart 0825, arrive 1215 (Weds)
BD6588 depart 0810, arrive 1200 (Thurs)
BD6534 depart 0825, arrive 1215 (Fri)
BD6534 depart 0945, arrive 1335 (Sat)
BD6534 depart 0625, arrive 1015 (Sun)

• Beirut schedule
Heathrow-Beirut
BD6509 depart 1535, arrive 2220 (Mon)
BD6509 depart 1600, arrive 2245 (Tues)
BD6505 depart 2100, arrive 0345 (Weds)
BD6517 depart 1615, arrive 2300 (Thurs)
BD6505 depart 1320, arrive 2005 (Fri)
BD6509 depart 1425, arrive 2110 (Sat)
BD6557 depart 1400, arrive 2045 (Sun)

Beirut-Heathrow
BD6558 depart 0735, arrive 1105 (Mon)
BD6510 depart 0830, arrive 1200 (Tues)
BD6510 depart 0835, arrive 1205 (Weds)
BD6506 depart 0845, arrive 1215 (Thurs)
BD6518 depart 0835, arrive 1205 (Fri)
BD6506 depart 0720, arrive 1050 (Sat)
BD6510 depart 0730, arrive 1100 (Sun)

I see they’ve kept the old BMED flight numbers but changed the designator to BD. I thought they might have added flight numbers in line with their own long/mid-haul operations such as the BD 7##/8## series. Maybe this is just an interim measure. Nice to see the integration coming along well.