bmi to launch flights to Mumbai and Riyadh

bmi is expanding its international network with the launch a four times weekly service from London Heathrow to Mumbai on 14 May 2005. This will be followed shortly afterwards with the launch of a three times weekly service from London Heathrow to Riyadh.

bmi's services to Mumbai will operate on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday with return services to London Heathrow on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.

Riyadh will be served on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday with return flights departing on the same days.

To support the development of the London Heathrow operation, the airline is to introduce a fourth aircraft into its long haul fleet.

Commenting on the new developments, bmi chief executive officer, Nigel Turner said, "We remain determined to press our case for greater frequencies and the chance to serve more destinations in India as soon as the opportunity is given. We are hopeful that the next round of bilateral talks in April 2005 will lead to further frequencies being available in the near future. In the meantime bmi will be bringing much needed, genuine and vigorous competition into the London market.

"bmi will have launched six new long haul destinations in less than nine months. To support our increasing presence in this market, we will be adding an additional long haul aircraft into our fleet. This will create more jobs within bmi as well as having a beneficial impact on our suppliers of goods and services."

The additional long haul aircraft, a damp leased Boeing 757 from Icelandair, will be based at Manchester and will operate the successful route to Washington, DC. This will enable one of bmi's Manchester Airbus A330 aircraft to be based at London Heathrow to commence the new routes to Mumbai and Riyadh.

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