British Airways torna in Arabia Saudita (Jeddah e Riyadh)


D

DusCgn

Utente Registrato
9 Novembre 2005
14,680
20
.
British Airways to resume flights to Saudi Arabia

Today, British Airways announced it would resume flights between London Heathrow and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) from 29 March 2009.

The airline will fly five times each week from Heathrow Terminal 5 to both Jeddah and Riyadh.

Flights to and from Riyadh will operate on a Boeing 777 with four cabins: First, Club World, World Traveller Plus and World Traveller. Jeddah flights will be on a Boeing 767 with three cabins: Club World, World Traveller Plus and World Traveller.

British Airways suspended flights to KSA in March 2005, due to poor commercial performance. We are able to restart flights because the aviation market between the UK and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has recently been liberalised.

Flights are available for sale from today.


BA.com

Flights from LHR to JED on days -2-4567 using 767
Flights from LHR to RUH on days -2345-7 using 777
 
Nel frattempo Sir Bishop rosica...

Open skies deal with Saudi for BA’s benefit, says Bmi

Bmi chairman Sir Michael Bishop has accused the Government of kowtowing to British Airways in the negotiation of new flying rights to Saudi Arabia.

By Alistair Osborne, Business Editor
Last Updated: 11:03PM GMT 04 Nov 2008


Sir Michael, who last week disclosed that he was selling his controlling stake in Bmi to German carrier Lufthansa for about £315m, said he was concerned at the way the Government had negotiated a new “open skies” deal between the two countries in July.
It potentially allows BA to re-enter the Saudi market just three years after it pulled out citing security concerns.
The open skies deal replaced a restrictive bilateral agreement between the two countries, effectively protecting designated carriers on the route from new competition.
After BA pulled out, Bmi took the decision to fly to Riyadh. It is poised to increase services to six flights per week, having invested heavily in the route.
Sir Michael, 66, said: “The issue is that BA left with its tail between its legs in 2005. BA has pulled out of Saudi Arabia on three occasions in the past 15 years or so and the last time there were very considerable concerns in the Saudi Government that BA was not operating into the kingdom.
“We said we would go in and replace BA. Now BA is keen to get back in again, the British Government has granted open skies. There has been a strong push from government departments to get this route application through and get BA on the route.”
He claimed the pivotal department was the Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform (BERR).
“The trade department has been pushing other departments to get BA back on the route,” Sir Michael claimed .
He acknowledged Bmi’s profits on the route would be jeopardised if BA made a quick return: “I can’t believe either of us would be well off for some time,” he said.
A BA spokesman said: “It’s one possible route that we are considering but no decision has been reached.”
A spokesman for BERR referred inquiries to the Department for Transport. A DfT spokesman said: “Government supports opening up routes to competition between airlines on a fair and equal basis. We will continue to work with all airlines to deliver the best services for travellers.”
Sir Michael added that he would have no further involvement with Bmi once the Lufthansa deal completed.
Asked if he could remain as life president of the airline where he has spent 44 years, Sir Michael said: “No. I think it would be quite inappropriate. I think the company has to do what it will do in the future with a clean slate.”
 
Devi accedere o registrarti per rispondere qui.


Top Bottom