BA zieht sich aus Saudi-Arabien zurück

[TobiBER]

British Airways is to suspend flights between the UK and Saudi Arabia because of reduced commercial demand, the airline said today (Tuesday).

 

Flights between London Heathrow and Jeddah and Riyadh will be suspended from March 27.

 

Robert Boyle, BA's director of commercial planning, said: "The decision to suspend flights between the UK and Saudi Arabia is a difficult one to make as we have enjoyed a long history of flying between the two countries. However, the routes don't currently make a profitable contribution to our business and we are unable to sustain them while this remains the case.

 

"As part of our commitment to Saudi Arabia we will, of course, keep this important market under constant review."

 

Customers booked to travel with BA to Saudi Arabia after March 27 will be contacted by the airline so that alternative arrangements can be made.

[YHZ]

Tja, wenn der böse, böse Toni im Iraq den großen Feldherr spielt, dann ist das natürlich nicht gerade, was die arabische Welt - angeführt von Saudi Arabien -gerne sieht. Folglich fliegt halt keiner mehr mit BA, weil der böse, böse Toni fliegt ja immer mit denen. Dumm gelaufen

 

Jedenfals beklagen sich andere Airlines nicht über derartige Probleme auf ihren Saudi Routen, wird wohl schon irgendwie mit der britischen Haltung zu tun haben ...

[Jubilee]

Seit 1.September fliegt dafür nun BMI 3x wöchentlich die Strecke von London nach Riyadh, Aufstockung im Frühjahr geplant. Ebenfalls sollen Jeddah und Damman baldmöglichst angeflogen werden.

LHR-RUH BD775 09:35-17:50 332

RUH-LHR BD776 00:40-05:40 332

Also wenn mich nicht alles täuscht, müßte das die zweite Fernstrecke von BMI ab LHR sein. Flog BMI überhaupt schon mal in den letzten Jahren Langstrecke ab LHR, sagen wir mal vor 2004??

 

bmi replaces BA on Saudi Arabia route

 

British airline bmi has replaced British Airways as the country's carrier to Saudi Arabia, after BA suspended its services to the kingdom early this year for security reasons.

 

bmi started operating three weekly flights to Riyadh from September 1 and aims to fly to Jeddah and Dammam shortly.

 

Nigel Turner, executive president of bmi, said in Riyadh the airline would increase flights in the spring of 2006.

 

"We intend to operate more flights to different international destinations after purchasing a large number planes from major aircraft companies next year," he said.

(...)

[touchdown99]

Nein, Langstrecke ist bei bmi ja erst seit Übernahme der drei A330-200 ein Thema (nun gut, in den 1970ern flog man mal eine Zeitlang Boeing 707).

 

Eigentlich wollte/will bmi mit den Airbus A330 USA-Flüge durchführen, was ex LHR wegen des Bermuda II-ABkommens aktuell aber nicht geht (Verkehrsrechte dort nur für VS und BA einer- und AA und UA andererseits). Die Hoffnung war, dass sich in Sache Bermuda II was bewegt. Deshalb hatte man die Airbus A330-200 übernommen und zunächst ab MAN eingesetzt bzw. einen verleast. Jetzt meint man in LHR eine Nische entdeckt zu haben, wobei Indien sicherlich so eine Sache ist, jetzt wo diverse indische Airlines auch Verkehrsrechte bekommen haben. Saudi-Arabien hat sich dann recht plötzlich durch den Rückzug der BA ergeben, was in MAN für wenig Begeisterung gesorgt hat - da flog dann plötzlich eine Boeing 757, weil der Airbus A330-200 in LHR benötigt wurde.

[TobiBER]

Der Plan scheint wohl voll aufzugehen:

 

bmi is to commence a three times weekly service to Jeddah from Heathrow

commencing 23 April 2006. The airline will increase to daily its service

from Heathrow to Mumbai on 22 April.

 

The introduction of a direct link from Heathrow to Jeddah follows the

successful launch in September of a three times weekly service to the

Saudi Arabia capital Riyadh. The addition of Jeddah means that bmi will

be the only UK airline providing key direct links from Britain to both

of the country's administrative and commercial centres. The new

destination will offer customers bmi's full in-flight service including

an onboard chef for business class passengers

 

Mumbai services from Heathrow will increase to a daily service after a

positive start to the route since its introduction in May of this year.

The opportunity to increase services to India has been possible

following further deregulation in the UK to India aviation market.

 

Nigel Turner, chief executive of bmi, said: "We have been extremely

encouraged by the start that we have had on the Heathrow to Riyadh

route. The opportunity exists for us to again re-establish direct air

links with one of the Middle East's key destinations. Jeddah is a major

centre of trade and industry and has a vibrant market for both business

and cultural passengers. I am confident that, as with Riyadh, we will

again benefit from the support and encouragement of both the UK and

Saudi governments in making our new service to Jeddah another success

story.

 

"The positive start that we have experienced on Mumbai and the

opportunity for further access into India from the UK means we can now

increase our operation to a daily service. This will further establish

our presence in the Indian market. As deregulation continues to deliver

much needed competition, our strategy remains to initially focus on the

development of Mumbai ahead of any additional destinations we may

consider launching in the future.

 

"By adding new destinations and increasing frequencies to our services

at Heathrow we are creating a long haul network and profile that will

further build and enhance our reputation in this market."

 

bmi will also commence a daily service to Doha from Heathrow in the

Summer of 2006. The service will commence on 26 March and, subject to

government approval, will be operated under a wet lease agreement with

Qatar Airways. At the same time bmi's existing codeshare agrement with

Qatar Airways will be expanded to allow bmi to sell Qatar Airways

flights from Heathrow to Doha under bmi's flight code. This will further

consolidate the presence of bmi at both Heathrow and in the Gulf region

and mark another major step in the global reach of the airline.