BA announces 35% increase in Mideast flights

British Airways has unveiled its 2009 summer schedule, which sees the airline operating 66 weekly flights from eight GCC markets to London Heathrow, a 35 percent increase on the programme last year.

British Airways' biggest-ever regional summer schedule comes at a time when several leading regional and global carriers have reduced seasonal schedules to combat the current economic downturn.

Despite British Airways recently announcing it expected to post AED791million losses for the period April 1 2008 - March 31 2009, Paolo De Renzis, the airline's commercial manager, Middle East, said the region remained a vital component in its long-term growth strategy .

"The Middle East continues to show robust growth and remains an important market for the airline," said De Renzis, in his first major announcement since taking the regional hot seat in February.

"It's no secret the aviation industry is in the worst trading environment it has ever faced and several carriers have folded already this year, following the 30-plus airlines that went bust in 2008.

"However, while not immune from the tightening market conditions brought about by falling passenger numbers, we believe we are well positioned to navigate any turbulence."

De Renzis said British Airways' re-entrance into Saudi Arabia on May 31 would provide another key revenue source - the airline will operate five weekly flights from both Jeddah and Riyadh, respectively, to Terminal 5, its dedicated home at London's principal airport.

"The resumption of flights from Riyadh and Jeddah further strengthens our regional commercial proposition and we look forward to offering our Saudi customers greater options, whether they are landing in the UK or connecting to our global network of more than 150 destinations in 70 countries," he added.

Running from 29th March to the end of October, 2009, British Airways' Middle East summer schedule sees a pair of Boeing 777s and a single Boeing 747 operate three daily flights from Dubai to London Heathrow, while a Boeing 777 will operate the airline's daily Abu Dhabi service.

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