British airline apologizes for deleting Israel from map
Telegraph reports most Israeli cities omitted from electronic screens showing flight maps on two BMI planes; Haifa identified by its Arab name; airline spokesman says 'no political agenda behind exclusion'
Most Israeli cities were not marked on electronic screens showing flight maps to passengers on two BMI-owned Airbus A320 airplanes, the London-based daily Telegraph reported on Friday.
Only Haifa was identified - by its Arab name, Khefa, the report said.
The Telegraph said BMI, which runs flights from London to Tel Aviv twice daily, "apologized for the omission on Thursday and denied that there was any political agenda behind the exclusion."
BMI spokesman Phil Shepherd was quoted as saying that the planes were acquired from British Mediterranean Airways (BMED), a now-defunct airline that flew to several Arab countries in the Middle East.
He said the maps were tailored to the airline's predominantly Muslim passengers, and also highlighted Islamic holy sites including Mecca.
According to Shepherd, BMI had asked for the map to be removed once it took over the planes, but they had remained unchanged due to a "technical mistake."
The Telegraph said the airline will provide new maps and BMI will use different aircraft in the meantime for its twice-daily flights to Israel.
BMED, formerly a franchise of British Airways, was absorbed into BMI in October, 2007.
