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Bmi extends codeshare with United
Bmi has extended a transatlantic codeshare with United Airlines to add five new US destinations to its network from Heathrow.
Under the agreement bmi can sell direct flights from London to the US gateways of Chicago, Los Angeles, Washington, San Francisco and Denver, with a bmi marketing codeshare flight number on flights operated by Star Alliance partner United.
Codeshare flights will start on March 30, 2008 and are now on sale following approval by US authorities.
Bmi plans to expand the codeshare arrangement to include a range of domestic US destinations beyond the gateway cities on United-operated flights.
The agreement is possible following the signing of an open skies agreement between the European Union and the US earlier this year which comes into effect from the beginning of the summer schedule next year.
The deal has paved the way for unrestricted codesharing opportunities which had not been previously available to Bmi and United. Bmi has yet to start its own transatlantic flights from Heathrow.
Bmi chief executive Nigel Turner said: “Whilst delaying the introduction of our own services from Heathrow to the USA, we said that we would still take full advantage of an open skies agreement between the EU and the USA.
“This codeshare agreement with United Airlines allows us to do just that. It will ensure that we can now offer our own flight code on services to these key US destinations thus widening the choice for our customers and enhancing competition.”
Meanwhile, Bmi is to launch flights to Dammam in Saudi Arabia early next year.
The service will operate three times a week with Airbus A330 aircraft and is in addition to the existing Saudi destinations of Riyadh and Jeddah.
The plans were announced at the start of daily services from Heathrow to Cairo.
The airline has also struck a reciprocal codeshare agreement with EgyptAir on the daily Cario flights which effectively doubles the number of non-stop services available to 14 a week.
by Phil Davies
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