Bmi expands in Middle East

British airline bmi has announced a new service from Heathrow to Damman in Saudi Arabia, to launch next year.

UK carrier bmi has announced expansions to its network in the Middle East, with new flights from Heathrow to Dammam in Saudi Arabia set to take off next year.

The service, which will commence in early 2008, will operate three times a week and is expected to build on the success of bmi's existing destinations in Saudi Arabia - Jeddah and Riyadh.

Nigel Turner, chief executive of the airline, unveiled plans for the new service at a press event in Egypt to mark the beginning of daily direct services from Heathrow to Cairo.

The announcement comes at the end of a week that saw 17 new routes launched by bmi, the largest ever expansion of its route network.

Mr Turner said that the carrier, which is the second largest operator out of Heathrow after British Airways, is going through one of the most exciting periods in its 70-year history.

"We have just introduced 17 new destinations from Heathrow at the start of the winter timetable including a daily non-stop service to Cairo," he commented. "We are also delighted to be announcing further developments which are marking our transition into a truly global airline."

He added: "Over the past two years we have established a highly successful presence in the Saudi market and are very pleased to extend services to include Dammam, strengthening our position in the region."

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