bmi announces new service between Cairo and London Heathrow

The new competitive service will be operated by an Airbus A320 aircraft in a two class business and economy configuration. Fares on the new bmi service to Heathrow will start from 6790EGP business and 3228EGP economy.

This means that business and leisure travellers to the UK from Cairo will have more choice and better value than ever before.

bmi also announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding with EgyptAir, which will see the carriers enter into reciprocal codeshare and frequent flyer agreements shortly. This will enable passengers to benefit from reciprocal flight codes on each airline’s flights as well as frequent flyer programme rewards and benefits.

bmi’s investment in the new Cairo – Heathrow route will further enhance Cairo’s position as a destination for business and leisure travellers and, by increasing flight options into the Egyptian capital, will support the Ministry of Tourism’s strategic plan to grow international visitor numbers into Egypt to 16 million by 2014.*

The new daily service is also huge endorsement of the development of Cairo International Airport which, upon completion of the new terminal later this year, will have the capacity to handle 11 million more passengers, reinforcing Cairo’s increasing profile as not only a destination in its own right but also as a worldwide hub.

Nigel Turner, bmi chief executive officer said:

‘The introduction of new competition onto routes has historically invigorated markets and we expect our new competitive service from Cairo to London to appeal to both leisure and business travellers alike. It is also extremely pleasing that this route will be operated in cooperation with EgyptAir. This will enable each of us to benefit from our strengths in our respective home markets to promote and sell seats on each others’ services.’

The new route launch, in addition to service and frequency enhancements to other bmi destinations and the full integration of the former BMED network into bmi, represents the biggest expansion that bmi will have ever undertaken in a single action.

Turner continued: ‘The number of destinations that bmi will serve from Heathrow at the start of the winter timetable will be 36. This further reinforces our position as Heathrow’s second biggest carrier and sends out a clear message of the presence of bmi as a major force within UK aviation both now and in the future.”