Suspending service
BMI cancels flight service to Israel
British airline owned by Lufthansa suspends several of its routes including London-Tel Aviv route, as part of recovery program on backdrop of financial difficulties. Last flight to depart January 10, 2010
BMI airlines (British Midlands) will suspend its flight service to Israel as of January 2010, the carrier announced Wednesday. The airline currently operates two daily flights between London's Heathrow Airport and Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport.
BMI launched its service to Israel in March 2008 with one daily flight, to great success. In time, the number of weekly flights doubled and the airline began using a larger aircraft.
A statement issued by the airline noted that difficult market conditions have led it to suspend its business in Israel in addition to its service to Kiev, Amsterdam and Brussels. Its lease of Airbus aircrafts, which were used for the London-Tel Aviv route, will end on April 2010.
BMI's last flight from London to Tel Aviv will depart on January 9, 2010 and the last flight in the opposite direction will take off the following day.
The suspension comes as part of a recovery program aimed at increasing company profits in the face of financial difficulties. German airline Lufthansa, which owns BMI, has expressed its commitment to see the carrier through its current crisis.
Dominic Paul, BMI’s managing director, said, "We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience the route suspensions will cause our customers and would like to take this opportunity to thank those who have supported us on these routes for their loyalty and business.
"Reprotection options will be available to all affected customers from December 2, 2009 and we will be contacting customers in order of travel date.”
